Armstrong advocates unity among filmmakers

JOTSAMA — Director of films at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Armstrong Pame, has emphasised the importance of unity among filmmakers from the Northeast region urged them to support each other to promote films beyond the borders.

He stated this during the valedictory programme of the fourth Film Festival of Nagaland on the theme “Harmonising frames,” organised by Nagaland Film Association (FAN), in collaboration with the Information and Broadcasting, GoI, and department of Information and Public Relations at Recempa in Jotsoma on Friday evening.

Pame questioned the lack of translation or subtitling of films across northeastern states. He cited examples of successful filmmakers, who translated their award-winning films into different northeastern languages. In this regard, Pame commended the Korean film industry in their endeavours for self-promotion.

Meanwhile, Pame urged the state governments, specifically Nagaland, to develop film policies to incentivise filmmakers by drawing parallels with film-friendly states like Sikkim. He encouraged creation of policies that could attract filmmakers and boost local economies.

The director also discussed the potential of the emerging field of Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC XR). He urged the state government to adopt policies in order to support film makers.

Pame further highlighted the immense potential of the AVGC XR sector for employment and encouraged state governments to adopt policies and support training programmes for the youth in this field.

Kivini Shohe, president of FAN, commended the participants for their active participation in the thought-provoking discussions. She emphasised the importance of telling unique stories and not mimicking western styles, asserting that the world needs to witness the authentic narratives of the region.

The president lauded DIPR for extending support to the film fraternity, particularly through film competitions encouraging young filmmakers.

Dzüvinuo Theünuo, director of DIPR, has appreciated the collaborative efforts that led to the success of the festival and highlighted that the film festival was the result of almost five months of meticulous planning and coordination.

She expressed gratitude to the , and stated that it was the first time that the ministry had sponsored such an event.