IMPHAL, December 15: The opening campaign for the Winter Olympic, Sochi (Russia) and 4 day long international Film Festival for “promotion of culture for friendship and co-operation” was kicked off today at the auditorium of Library and Information Centre, Kakching in Thoubal District.
The program was jointly organised by Sahitya Seva Samiti, Library & Information, Kakching Sports Club and Film Forum Manipur in collaboration with Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Kolkata.
As a part of the program, a torch rally of Winter Olympic, Sochi, Russia was also organised as a part of the worldwide Olympic Torch Rally with the participation of eminent personalities, sports persons and students started from Khongjom War Memorial complex led by the first Olympian of Manipur, P Nilakamal and proceeded to Library and Information Centre Kakching where the torch was recepted by Irina K Bashkirova, consul general of Russian Federation, Kolkata and lighted the symbolic Winter Olympic flame.
The inaugural program of the festival was graced by Irina K Bashkirova as the chief guest; Alexander V Mazirka, director of Russian Centre of Science and Culture Kolkata as the guest of honour; Dr M Nara, national vice-president All India Peace & Solidarity Organisation; Y Dhananjoy Singh, president of Sahitya Seva Samiti Kakching and P Shampha Singh, president of Library & Information Centre Kakching as the functional presidents respectively.
On the first day of the festival festival, ‘Life in Space’ (a documentary film on Valentina Tereshkova, ‘Skating on Ice’ (Russian Film) and ‘Nangna
Kappa Pakchade’ (Manipuri Film) were screened.
Several foreign films from USA, Portugal, Cuba-Angola, Iran, Bosnia, New Zealand and Turkey will also be screened during the 4 days film festival.