The money will support additional crew members from two Manipuri films selected for the Indian Panorama section of the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa
KRC TIMES Manipur Bureau
Imphal: The Manipur State Film Development Society has stepped in to help a new generation of Manipuri filmmakers by raising Rs.2.27 lakh through a special screening of Oitharei at the Palace Auditorium on November 23.
The money will support additional crew members from two Manipuri films selected for the Indian Panorama section of the 56th International Film Festival of India in Goa. The selections mark a rare moment for the state, with both a documentary and a fiction feature making it to one of Indian cinema’s most respected platforms.
Borun Thokchom’s documentary Battlefield explores the lesser-known history of the Battle of Imphal during the Second World War. Oitharei, the fiction feature chosen this year, looks at grief, loss and the psychological toll of the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is sponsoring travel and stay for a limited number of core team members from each film. Many first-time participants, however, hope to attend the festival for exposure and professional growth.
With no dedicated funding to support them, MSFDS decided to bridge the gap. The society already earmarks Ra. 1 lakh annually to partially sponsor delegates, particularly film professionals, critics and journalists.
A major boost for the fundraiser came from the Chief Electoral Office of Manipur, which contributed Rs.1.5 lakh. In exchange, MSFDS will offer a month of publicity space for electoral awareness campaigns and screen election-related messages before and during auditorium shows.
The initiative may be modest, but it reflects a growing sense of community support for Manipuri cinema at a time when government resources are stretched. It also underscores a belief shared across the film fraternity that festival participation, networking and peer learning are essential for creative growth.
By rallying public goodwill and institutional support, MSFDS is helping young filmmakers find their footing on a national stage while strengthening the larger ecosystem that sustains Manipuri cinema.
