Rono Hills, Mar 19: The second edition of Borderland Narratives: Festival of Films from Contemporary Northeast is set to take place from Thursday, at Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU).
Organized by the mass communication department and the Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies (AITS) of the central varsity, in collaboration with the Centre for Cultural Research and Documentation (CCRD) and the Research Institute of World’s Ancient Traditions, Cultures, and Heritage (RIWATCH), the three-day event promises a vibrant showcase of Northeast India's cinematic and cultural richness.
Following the success of its first edition in 2019, the festival continues as a platform for storytelling and cultural representation from the region.
This year’s edition aims to further highlight the diverse narratives of Northeast India through a curated selection of regional feature films by renowned filmmakers, including Dominic Sangma (Rapture), Raymond Colney (MI BO), Pradip Kurbah (IEWDUH), Haobam Paban Kumar (Joseph’s Son), Sanjib Das (Rosewala), and Napolean RZ Thanga (A Star is Born).
Additionally, thought-provoking documentaries by local filmmakers Gyamar Karmey (Into the Sacred Hills: A Peek into Nyishi Ancestral Hunting) and Akom Don Emma (Ihi-Hang) will shed light on the region’s unique traditions and heritage.
A major highlight of the festival is the short film competition, “Our Lives, Our Stories,” under the theme Vanishing Roots: Art, Culture, and Folklore. The competition encourages emerging filmmakers to document fading traditions and cultural expressions of the Northeast, with a cash prize of ?50,000 for the winning film.
Aspiring filmmakers can also participate in exclusive master classes, including “Rhythm of Souls”, a session on film editing by three-time national award-winning filmmaker Sanjiv Monga, and “What’s Playing on Your Mind?”, a screenplay writing workshop by renowned filmmaker Alka Singh and Associate Professor of FTI, Itanagar.
Alexander Leo Pou, Director of the Manipur State Film and Television Institute, will conduct a special master class on film finance, “Crossing the Maze: Funding for Independent Film”, offering insights into securing financing and navigating industry challenges.
The festival will also feature an engaging panel discussion, “The Eight Rivers Coalition: Towards a Network and Synergy of Filmmakers of Northeast”, bringing together distinguished panelists from the region’s film and media industry.
The discussion aims to foster collaboration and strengthen the filmmaking ecosystem in Northeast India.
With a strong emphasis on cultural narratives and the evolving cinematic landscape, the second film festival at RGU is poised to be a vital platform for creative exchange and would foster dialogue between emerging and established filmmakers while celebrating the rich storytelling traditions of Northeast India.
