by admin | Jun 28, 2024 | Screenings
A Hindi-language film, Kooki, which addresses social issues with a focus on legal practice, premiered today. The film marks a significant collaboration between Assamese and Bollywood talent.
Dr Jonmani Devi Khaund, a practising lawyer, conceived the film’s theme and penned its story. Pranab J Deka took on the roles of screenwriter and director. Dr. Khaund, who also produced the film, cast actors from Bollywood and Assam, bridging the gap between the film industries.
Industry insiders are watching Kooki closely, as its box office performance could influence future filmmaking trends in Assam. A successful run might encourage local filmmakers to explore broader themes and collaborations beyond regional boundaries.
The film’s release represents a bold step for Assamese cinema, venturing into Hindi-language production and tackling socio-legal themes. It remains to be seen how audiences will respond to this cross-regional effort and whether it will pave the way for future collaborations.
by admin | Jun 26, 2024 | Announcements
National Award-winner filmmaker Rima Das whose acclaimed feature, Village Rockstar was India’s official entry to Oscar 2019 joins the Academy Awards 2024 as an honourable member.
This year, the Academy invited 487 new members from 68 countries, with 46 percent of the new members being women and 41 percent coming from underrepresented ethnic or racial groups. 56 percent are from countries and territories outside the US.
Actor Shabana Azmi, directors SS Rajamouli and Anand Kumar Tucker, producer Ritesh Sidhwani, cinematographer Ravi Varman, costume designers Rama Rajamouli, Sheetal Sharma, documentary filmmakers Nisha and Pahuja Hemal Trivedi are the others from India to join the illustrious list of the Academy members.
Sharing her joy Rima Das says “I am honoured and thrilled to become a member of the Academy. My journey at the Academy began when Village Rockstars was India’s Official entry 2019. Now as part of this incredible community, I look forward to contribute to recognizing the best in our craft, celebrating the power and magic of cinema.”
by admin | Jun 23, 2024 | Screenings
Today marks the digital premiere of the celebrated short film “KACHICHINITHU (The Boy with a Gun)” on YouTube, offering audiences worldwide a chance to witness this poignant narrative. Directed by the talented Khanjan Kishore Nath, the film has already made waves in the cinematic world, winning the prestigious Rajat Kamal for Best Short Fiction Film at the 68th National Film Awards in 2020.
“KACHICHINITHU” tells a gripping story, capturing the essence of childhood amidst the harsh realities of life. The film’s profound narrative and emotional depth have resonated with viewers and critics alike. Its journey through the film festival circuit has been nothing short of remarkable, having been showcased in approximately 30 international film festivals and garnering numerous accolades along the way.
This film is a testament to the collaborative spirit of its creators. Produced by the Ladakh-based production company Jobless Studio in partnership with Cinemalay, it stands as a beacon of regional storytelling on the global stage. Co-producers Rahul Reddy and Suraj Gunjal have been instrumental in bringing this story to life, contributing their expertise and vision to the project.
Director Khanjan Kishore Nath expressed his excitement about the film’s YouTube release, stating, “The journey of ‘KACHICHINITHU’ has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a story that’s close to my heart, and seeing it resonate with so many people around the world has been a humbling experience. We are thrilled to make it accessible to a wider audience through YouTube.”
The film’s success is a testament to the power of independent cinema and regional voices. Its accolades include recognition at various prestigious festivals. For those eager to delve into the world of “KACHICHINITHU,” the film is now available for streaming on YouTube. Viewers are invited to immerse themselves in its captivating story and share their thoughts and experiences.
by admin | Jun 22, 2024 | Festival Circuit
The films from North East India that found places in MIFF brightened this zone and significantly impacted the National landscape, inspiring a hopeful future for Indian cinema. The IDPA award for the Best Student Film at MIFF was awarded to ‘Chanchisoa (Expectation),’ a Garo film directed by Elvachisa Ch Sangma and Dipankar Das. The award includes a trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh.
The other films from this region are ’Birubala witch to Padmasri’ by Aimee Baruah, ‘Sibuk’ by Asutosh Kashyap, ‘Fehujali’ by Dr Partha Sarathu Mahanta, ‘Cycle of Eternity’ by Souradeep Dutta, ‘Challenge’ by Sibanu Bora and Ramen Bora, ‘River still Flows’ by Dip Bhuyan, and ‘Caretaker’ by Biswajit Das. Shilpika Bardaloi’s ‘Sakyad: The Ecological Body’ featured in the student film section.
The North East Indian film industry was not just a participant at MIFF, it was also a key player. Meghachandra Konbam, a renowned film critic from Manipur, and Bobby Sarma Baruah from Assam were part of the esteemed jury board. Ronel Haobam from Manipur was in the selection committee of the International Competition. Filmmaker Prerona Borbora, film critic Utpal Datta, and singer-actor Queen Hazarikaa too took part in the panel discussions.
by admin | Jun 21, 2024 | Screenings
Homeboys is an Assamese feature film presented by Arindam Entertainment. The theme of the film is drugs and their influence on present-day youth. The film’s lead actors are Arindam Sharma and Anurag Bitopan Gogoi. A few other actors are Rajib P Deori, Prakash Acharya, Arjun Lahon, Porosh Phukon, Sikha Sharma, Mukul Sharma, Pradip Bhagawati, Mukul Barman, Jeet Baruah, and Dr Satyen Deka
Bitopan feels proud to be associated with this film. Expressing his reaction, he says- ‘I am thrilled that I have been chosen to play one major character in this film. Earlier, I had acted in ‘Ahetuk’, and the character I played was a minor role. This is my first major role in film. I am grateful to the director. One thing I would love to mention here is that in this film, the director used many beautiful locations of Assam and Meghalaya, which is one of the major attractions of the film.’
Homeboys, a film that celebrates regional diversity, included actors from two bordering states, Kikumsangla Imchen from Nagaland and Pinky Marak from Meghalaya. Tonthoi, a leading Manpuri actress, was invited for two Assamese films, Utpal Borpujari’s ‘Ishu’ and Diganta Majumdar’s ‘Barsharanya’.
The film, a labor of love that took eight long years to complete, overcame significant setbacks including the Coronavirus pandemic. Producer-director Arindam Sharma’s dedication is evident in his multiple roles as the story and screenplay writer, Director of Photography, music director, editor, and colour gradation artist. The sound designer, Anirban Barthakur, also contributed to this cinematic masterpiece. Homeboys was released on 18 screens in Assam and has a runtime of 143.13 minutes. An important aspect of the film release is that it was released outside of Assam with English and Hindi subtitles. This will show a path of expanding the Assamese film market.
by admin | Jun 20, 2024 | Festival Circuit
On the sidelines of the ongoing 18th Mumbai International Film Festival, the Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA) organized an Open Forum on the topic ‘Creating new opportunities for documentary-funding’. Esteemed speakers from the film industry shared their insights, highlighting the challenges and potential solutions for the financial viability of documentary films in India.
Opening the discussion, Shri Sanjit Narwekar, a V. Shantaram Awardee and National Award winner, emphasized the importance of developing a paying audience for documentaries in India. He noted that until such a culture emerges, documentary films cannot be made financially viable. He pointed out that while people are ready to finance fiction films, the lack of a revenue model hampers funding for documentaries. “ Some filmmakers finance their own films which gives them artistic freedom. We have seen government, corporate and crowdsourcing funding for documentaries, but none has really worked for filmmakers. People who spend their money always have some strings attached to it,” he said.
The veteran filmmaker also added that new technology and streaming platforms like MUBI are providing more screening avenues for documentaries. He posed the question of whether Indian documentary filmmakers could conceive a project like ‘Commandant’s Shadow’ given the current financial constraints.
Shri Premendra Mazumder, a film critic, author, and organiser, echoed this sentiment by stating that Indian audiences do not have a widespread culture of watching documentaries and a paying audience base must be established first. He noted that film festivals like MIFF play a crucial role. Shri Mazumder highlighted the global scale of the documentary film industry, valued at around $12 billion, but lamented that India’s share is minimal. “With approximately 18,000-20,000 films receiving certifications annually in India, only around 2,000 are feature films. Rest are documentary films. But we are not seeing this whole chunk of films being screened anywhere. Organizations like NFDC go a long way in promoting work of new documentary filmmakers”, he opined.
Shri Dharam Gulati, a Producer, Director, Director of Photography and an academician, pointed out the need for OTT platforms dedicated to documentary films. He observed that modern technology has reduced the cost of documentary filmmaking, enabling filmmakers to self-fund their projects. Gulati stressed that commitment, not just financial gain, is crucial for documentary filmmakers. He proposed that the government provide tax deductions to corporates using CSR funds for documentaries and mandate multiplexes to screen documentaries in exchange for tax benefits.
Sharing a differing perspective, Shri Utpal Datta, a writer and professor of Practice at Assam Down Town University, highlighted the challenges of complex bureaucratic processes in obtaining government funding. Shri Datta emphasised that people value paid content over free offerings and suggested that documentary film festivals should always charge for attendance.
Dr. Dev Kanya Thakur, an independent filmmaker and freelance writer, emphasised the need for documentary filmmakers to evolve and explore emerging platforms like YouTube and OTT services. She suggested seeking funds from organisations with specific themes and utilizing corporate funds. Dr. Thakur proposed institutionalising documentary filmmaking to attract funding and recommended that different stakeholders, such as IDPA and the Bitchitra collective, collaborate to finance documentaries and establish fellowships for aspiring filmmakers. She also highlighted the potential of crowd funding and the importance of creating compelling content to attract viewership. Thakur noted the increasing number of women documentary filmmakers, helping to close the gender gap in the industry.
The session was moderated by Ms. Maya Chandra, a film production entrepreneur, who observed that youngsters seem less passionate about documentaries than feature films. She called for discussions on establishing a separate body or ecosystem for documentary film promotion. Chandra mentioned that corporate funds have recently started flowing into documentary films in states like Karnataka and suggested that IDPA could partner with theatre chains like INOX and PVR to screen documentaries, thereby cultivating an audience culture.
(In Photo From right to left :Dr. Dev Kanya Thakur, Shri Dharam Gulati, Shri Sanjit Narwekar, Shri Premendra Mazumder, Shri Utpal Datta and Ms Maya Chandra participating in an Open Forum discussion at 18th MIFF)
