Rono Hills, Mar 19: The 2nd Edition of Borderland Narratives: Festival of Films from Contemporary Northeast is set to take place from March 20-22, at Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU). The festival organized by the Department of Mass Communication and the Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies (AITS) 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 festival promises to be a dynamic celebration of the cinematic and cultural richness of Northeast India.
The first edition of the festival was successfully held in 2019, setting the stage for a platform dedicated to storytelling and cultural representation from the region. Building upon this foundation, the second edition aims to further highlight the diverse narratives of Northeast India. The three-day festival will showcase a curated selection of regional feature films by acclaimed 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, the festival will feature thought-provoking documentaries by local filmmakers Gyamar Karmey (Into the Sacred Hills: A Peek into Nyishi Ancestral Hunting) and Akom Don Emma (Ihi-Hang), shedding light on the region’s unique traditions and heritage.
A key highlight of the festival is the short film competition, titled “Our Lives, Our Stories,” under the theme Vanishing Roots: Art, Culture, and Folklore. The competition aims to encourage emerging filmmakers to explore and document the fading traditions and cultural expressions of the Northeast. The winning film will receive a cash prize of `50,000.
Aspiring filmmakers will also have the opportunity to participate in exclusive masterclasses, 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 workshop on screenplay writing by renowned filmmaker Alka Singh and Associate Professor of FTI, Itanagar. There will be also a special invitee masterclass  by Alexander Leo Pou, Director Manipur State Film and Television institute  on film finance "Crossing The Maze: Funding for Independent Film" explores strategies, resources, and insights for securing financing, navigating challenges, and successfully producing independent films in today's industry.  
The festival will also have a engaging panel discussion, “The Eight Rivers Coalition: Towards a Network and Synergy of Filmmakers of North East”, featuring distinguished panelists from the region’s film and media industry. This discussion aims to foster collaboration and strengthen the filmmaking ecosystem in Northeast India.
With a strong focus on the region’s cultural narratives and evolving cinematic landscape, the 2nd Borderland Narratives Film Festival at RGU is set to be a vital platform for creative exchange, fostering dialogue between emerging and established filmmakers while celebrating the rich storytelling traditions of Northeast India.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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