2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival
 Festival poster | |
| Opening film | Ishanou by Aribam Syam Sharma |
|---|---|
| Closing film | Boong by Lakshmipriya Devi |
| Location | Imphal, Manipur, India |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Hosted by |
|
| No. of films | 53 |
| Festival date | Opening: 6 February 2025 Closing: 9 February 2025 |
| Website | eiiff |
The 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival took place from 6 to 9 February, 2025 at Imphal, Manipur.[1] The festival had screened 53 films from India and abroad, spread across four venues in Imphal (Manipur State Film Development Society, Chandrakriti Auditorium, Tanthapolis Cinema and Kumecs Cinema).[2][3] The opening and closing ceremonies were held at City Convention Centre, Palace Compound.[4] There was also a competition in two sections - fiction and non-fiction. 11 feature films, which include seven international films and four Indian films, including one Manipuri film, competed in the fiction category.[5]
Events
[edit]- Master classes
- Prof. Shyamal Sengupta on 7th February 2025 (The Fundamentals of Direction)
- Sean McAllister on 7th February 2025 (Filming Intimate Documentary)
- Shiladitya Bora on 9th February 2025 (Marketing, Distribution and Monetisation of Independent Films)
- Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni on 9th February 2025 (Exploring Storytelling in Shorts)
- Panel Discussions:
- Challenges Faced by Manipuri Cine Exhibitors on 6th February 2025
- Panelists
- Laishram Sanatomba, Haobijam Shantiprabha and Laimayum Surjakanta, moderated by Wahengbam Lalpal
- Cinemagi Honglakliba Saklon Amadi Manipuri Cine Actors on 6th February 2025
- Panelists
- Amar Mayanglambam, Soma Laishram and Bala Hijam, moderated by Sonia Sorengsangbam
- Stories From The Fringe on 7th February 2025
- Panelists
- Kivini Shohe, Pradip Kurbah and Borun Thokchom, moderated by Moji Riba
- Manipuri Cinema Amadi Ari-Anougi Langdai on 9th February 2025
- Panelists
- Kangabam Tomba, R.K. Hemabati and Thongam Thoithoi, moderated by Kharibam Yaiphaba
- Cine Talks
- Vikramjit Roy on 6th February 2025 (Harnessing Film Production to Boost State's Revenue)
- Sukamal Deb on 6th February 2025 (Ham Radio and Communication)
- Subimal Bhattacharjee on 7th February 2025 (Digital Transformation and Film Consumption)
- Jenica Kalra on 8th February 2025 (Japan-India Content Collaboration: Anime, IPs, and Beyond)
- Eikhoigi Pitch
- Documentary Pitch on 8th February 2025
- Fiction Pitch on 8th February 2025
- Cultural & Traditional Showcase
- Opening Ceremony on 6th February: Moibung, Phisarol, Tribal Dance, Rosy Heisnam, SAM PAA
- Eikhoigi Legacy on 7th February: Thang-Ta, Dhol Cholom, Thang Leiteng, Guru Rewben Mashangva, Lourembam Bedabati Devi, Sorri Senjam
- Eikhoigi Impulse on 8th February: Pumpkin Crew & Imphal Breakers, Featherheads, Ereimang
- Closing Ceremony on 9th February: Laihui Ensemble, Pung Cholom, Basanta Raas
Jury
[edit]International Competition: Fiction Jury
[edit]- Susant Misra (Chairman of Jury): Film director
- Ritu Sarin: Film director, producer and artist
- Romi Meitei: Film director
International Competition: Non-Fiction Jury
[edit]- Supriyo Sen (Chairman of Jury): Indian filmmaker
- Tangella Madhavi: Documentary filmmaker
- Oinam Doren: Documentary filmmaker
Eikhoigi Pitch: Fiction Jury
[edit]- Nabin Subba: Nepalese film director
- Fowzia Fathima: Indian cinematographer, producer, academic and director
- Oken Amakcham: Indian actor, director and music composer
Eikhoigi Pitch: Non-Fiction Jury
[edit]- Kivine Shohe: Indian filmmaker
- Uma Vangal: Indian filmmaker
- Sudharak Olwe: Indian documentary photographer
Official selections
[edit]The following films have been selected in different categories.[8][9] All That Breathes and Yairipok Thambalnu made to the official selections and screening schedules were notified, but were not screened at the festival.[10]
International Competition: Fiction
[edit]- Highlighted title indicates award winner
| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Production countrie(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village Rockstars 2 | Rima Das | India | |
| Boong | Lakshmipriya Devi | India | |
| မ | MA - Cry of Silence | The Maw Naing | Myanmar |
| Cu Li Không Bao Giờ Khóc | Cu Li Never Cries | Phạm Ngọc Lân | Vietnam, Singapore, France, Philippines, Norway |
| Ullozhukku | Undercurrent | Christo Tomy | India |
| Hangman | Vihaan | India | |
| Nelum Kuluna | Tentigo | Ilango Ram | Sri Lanka |
| Айқай | Scream | Kenzhebek Shaikakov | Kazakhastan |
| Yakshanba | Sunday | Shokir Kholikov | Uzbekistan |
| Buelwa | An Offering | Charmi Chheda | Bhutan |
| गाउँ आएको बाटो | A Road to a Village | Nabin Subba | Nepal |
International Competition: Non-Fiction
[edit]- Highlighted title indicates award winner
| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Production countrie(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ढोरपाटन | No Winter Holidays | Rajan Kathet & Sunir Pandey | Nepal, South Korea, Romania |
| Where We Used to Sleep | Matthäus Wörle | Germany | |
| তৃতীয় ভুবন | Beyond Boundaries | Sankhajit Biswas & Biswajit Mitra | Australia, India |
| And, Towards Happy Alleys | Sreemoyee Singh | Iran | |
| Andro Dreams | Meena Longjam | India | |
| Agent of Happiness | Arun Bhattarai & Dorottya Zurbó | Bhutan, Hungary | |
| Bhangaar | Obsolete | Sumira Roy | India |
| Against the Tide | Sarvnik Kaur | India, France | |
| Turtle Walker | Taira Malaney | India, United States | |
| Ukjent Landskap | A New Kind of Wilderness | Silje Evensmo Jacobsen | Norway |
North-East Currents
[edit]| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Production North East Indian State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ka Chithi | The Letters | Simi Khongtiang | Meghalaya |
| Puinau Puidaa | Stepmother | Kachangthai Gonmei | Manipur |
| Tara: The Lost Star | Samten Bhutia | Sikkim | |
| Bibo Binanao | My Three Sisters | Kenny Deori Basumatary | Assam |
| Indian Women Atlas | Sunil Dhankher | Manipur | |
| Ade (On a Sunday) | Theja Rio | Nagaland | |
| Karken | Nending Loder | Arunachal Pradesh | |
| Chanchisoa | Expectation | Elvachisa Ch. Sangma & Dipankar Das | Meghalaya |
| An Unknown Summer | Bhaskar Jyoti Das | Assam | |
| Delusional Decays | Tushar Nongthombam | Manipur | |
| Aaini Onnai | Mother's Affection | Bishal Swargiary | Assam |
World Lenses
[edit]| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Production countrie(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father's Footsteps | Mohamad W. Ali | Syria, India | |
| Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know... | Chidananda S. Naik | India | |
| Putulnama | Dolls Don’t Die | Ranajit Ray | India |
| Čovjek koji nije mogao šutjeti | The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent | Nebojša Slijepčević | France, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria |
Remastered: The Light of Manipuri Cinema
[edit]| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishanou | The Chosen One | Aribam Syam Sharma | Fiction |
| Sanakeithel | Golden Market | M.A. Singh | Fiction |
| Chatledo Eidi | Gone With A Heavy Heart | Makhonmani Mongsaba | Fiction |
Eikhoigi Montage
[edit]| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swaha | In the Name of Fire | Abhilash Sharma | Fiction |
| Kherwal | Uttam Kamati | Fiction | |
| Appuram | The Other Side | Indu Lakshmi | Fiction |
| Adim | Primitive | Amitabha Chaterji | Fiction |
| The Secrets of Radha | Subarna Thapa | Fiction | |
| Manikbabur Megh | The Cloud and the Man | Abhinandan Banerjee | Fiction |
| In God We Trust | Uma Vangal | Non Fiction | |
| Teere Bendho Na.. | Unanchored.. | Niranjan Kumar Kujur | Fiction |
| Path | Pradip Kurbah | Shorts | |
Manipur Matinée
[edit]| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oneness | Priyakanta Laishram | Fiction | |
| Sunita | Ajit Yumnam | Fiction | |
| Laangoi | Enclosure | Manoranjan Longjam | Fiction |
| Langdai Ama | The Juncture | Binoranjan Oinam | Fiction |
| Una Una | As It Sees | Irel Luwang | Fiction |
Awards and Winners
[edit]| Award | Film | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Best Fiction: International Competition | MA - Cry of Silence | The Maw Naing |
| Best Non-Fiction: International Competition | Agent of Happiness | Arun Bhattarai & Dorottya Zurbó |
| FIPRESCI Award | Where We Used to Sleep | Matthäus Wörle |
| Special Jury Award | Yakshanba | Shokir Kholikov |
Eikhoigi Pitch Awards
[edit]| Award | Film | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pitch - Fiction | The Scent of the Ripening Field | Alexander Leo Pou |
| Best Pitch - Non-Fiction | Bedabati's Songs | Borun Thokchom |
| Most Promising Project - Fiction or Non-Fiction | The Scent of Mother | Pramoda Nandeibam |
| Emerging Talent - Non-Fiction | Eche Tombi - The Brewer of Andro | Andy Tourangbam & Thokchom Nelson |
| Emerging Talent - Fiction | Khei-Hea (Night & Day) | Ashok Veilou |
References
[edit]- ^ "Imphal readies for 2nd Eikhoigi Film Festival from Feb 6; to host 57 films, cultural events". The Assam Tribune.
- ^ "2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2025 Screening Schedule" (PDF). eiiff.org.
- ^ "Manipur set to host 2nd International Film Festival, showcasing 57 films across four venues". India Today NE.
- ^ Bikash Singh. "Amid unrest, Manipur hosts 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival". The Economic Times. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "Imphal set to host Intl Film Fest". The Sangai Express.
- ^ "EIIFF Industry Engagement Events Schedule v1" (PDF). eiiff.org. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ Murtaza Ali Khan. "EIIFF 2025: Cinema Sparks Change in Manipur". www.transcontinentaltimes.com. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ "Film festival relief for conflict-scarred Manipur". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "Manipur: Second Edition Of Imphal International Film Festival To Be Held In February". The Sentinel.
- ^ "2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2025 Official Selection List" (PDF). eiiff.org.
- ^ "Film Fest concludes". The Sangai Express. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
- ^ "EIIFF Newsletter Day5 Winners v2" (PDF). eiiff.org. Retrieved 11 February 2025.