Barak Valley to host ‘Borail Film Festival’ in January

Silchar: Beekshan Cine Commune, Silchar, in collaboration with Ritwiz Cine Art Society, Karimganj, will organise a film fest titled “Borail Film Festival” in Barak Valley’s Karimganj in January 2023.

The extravaganza will also feature a short film contest “North East Short Film Competition, 2023” to help Northeast filmmakers showcase their creations on a common platform and create a flourishing environment for the region’s film industry.

At a news conference in Silchar on Sunday, Saumitra Das Adhikari of Ritwiz Cine Art Society said the fest aims to create a platform for filmmakers and improve the region’s film industry. “Online and offline submissions of short films will start on June 15 and end on the midnight of October 31 (midnight). Films made between January 2020 and October 2022 are eligible. Our concern about environmental issues has prompted us to include a special award for films on environmental issues. The award (trophy) has been named after the Gangetic river ‘Dolphin’, which is on the verge of extinction,” Adhikari said.

He said, “the duration of each film should not be more than 30 minutes. The jury panel will comprise personalities of national-level repute in film-making and other relevant fields. Films, which are not shortlisted for the competitive section, may be shown in the non-competitive section of the fest.”

Sandeep Acharjee of Beekshan Cine Commune said, “We are expecting participation from all the Northeastern states. Acclaimed film critic and the vice president of the Federation of Film Societies of India Premendra Mazumder has accepted our invitation to be the fest’s advisor. As of now, we have decided to give awards in 13 categories and this will include a Dolphin-model trophy and cash prize for each category. Some more awards may be instituted. The categories (awards) are – Best Documentary, Best Fiction, Best Environment Film, Southern Assam’s Best Film, Best Animation Film, Best Short Fiction Director, Best Director (Documentary), Best Camera, Best Editing, Best Sound (recording, engineering and design), Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Child Actor,” Acharjee said.

Film-maker and Beekshan Cine Commune member Bishwajeet Sheel said there would be a special non-competitive section in which some major films made on the Northeast’s indigenous subjects and made by filmmakers (who may not be residents of this region) will be screened, however, this has to be dined by invitation only, he said.

Another member Ratnadeep Deb said a special section, to encourage and nurture the filmmakers of south Assam, will be there for films made by filmmakers of Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Dima Hasao. For any queries, people can contact them at 9435073936 / 6001261344 or email borailfilmfestival@gmail.com, he said.

Other members Krishanu Bhattacharjee, Kamal Chakraborty, Malay Das and Sujit Das were also present at the news conference.

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