# 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival

The 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival took place from 6 to 9 February, 2025 at Imphal, Manipur. 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). The opening and closing ceremonies were held at City Convention Centre, Palace Compound. 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.

## Events

Source:
* 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
### International Competition: Fiction Jury

* Susant Misra (Chairman of Jury): Film director
* Ritu Sarin: Film director, producer and artist
* Romi Meitei: Film director

### International Competition: Non-Fiction Jury

* Supriyo Sen (Chairman of Jury): Indian filmmaker
* Tangella Madhavi: Documentary filmmaker
* Oinam Doren: Documentary filmmaker

### Eikhoigi Pitch: Fiction Jury

* 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

* Kivine Shohe: Indian filmmaker
* Uma Vangal: Indian filmmaker
* Sudharak Olwe: Indian documentary photographer

## Official selections

The following films have been selected in different categories.

### International Competition: Fiction

    Highlighted title indicates award winner
| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Production countrie(s) |
| Village Rockstars 2 | Village Rockstars 2 | Rima Das | India |
| Boong | 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 | Hangman | Vihaan V | India |
| Nelum Kuluna | Tentigo | Ilango Ram | Sri Lanka |
| Aikai | 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

    Highlighted title indicates award winner
| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Production countrie(s) |
| ढोरपाटन | No Winter Holidays | Rajan Kathet & Sunir Pandey | Nepal |
| Where We Used to Sleep | Where We Used to Sleep | Matthäus Wörle | Germany |
| Tritiyo Bhubon | Beyond Boundaries | Sankhajit Biswas | Australia |
| And, Towards Happy Alleys | And, Towards Happy Alleys | Sreemoyee Singh | Iran |
| Andro Dreams | Andro Dreams | Meena Longjam | India |
| Agent of Happiness | Agent of Happiness | Arun Bhattarai & Dorottya Zurbó | Bhutan, Hungary |
| Bhangaar | Obsolete | Sumira Roy | India |
| Against the Tide | Against the Tide | Sarvnik Kaur | India |
| Turtle Walker | Turtle Walker | Taira Malaney | India |
| Ukjent Landskap | A New Kind of Wilderness | Silje Evensmo Jacobsen | Norway |

### North-East Currents

| 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 | Tara: The Lost Star | Samten Bhutia | Sikkim |
| Bibo Binanao | My Three Sisters | Kenny Deori Basumatary | Assam |
| Indian Women Atlas | Indian Women Atlas | Sunil Dhankher | Manipur |
| Ade (On a Sunday) | Ade (On a Sunday) | Theja Rio | Nagaland |
| Karken | Karken | Nending Loder | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Chanchisoa | Expectation | Elvachisa Ch Sangma | Meghalaya |
| An Unknown Summer | An Unknown Summer | Bhaskar Jyoti Das | Assam |
| Delusional Decays | Delusional Decays | Tushar Nongthombam | Manipur |
| Aaini Onnai | Mother's Affection | Bishal Swargiary | Assam |

### World Lenses

| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Production countrie(s) |
| Father's Footsteps | Father's Footsteps | Mohamad Ali | Syria |
| Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know... | 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

| 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

| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Genre |
| Swaha | In The Name Of Fire | Abhilash Sharma | Fiction |
| Kherwal | Kherwal | Uttam Kamati | Fiction |
| Appuram | The Other Side | Indu Lakshmi | Fiction |
| Adim | Primitive | Amitabha Chaterji | Fiction |
| The Secrets of Radha | The Secrets of Radha | Subarna Thapa | Fiction |
| Manikbabur Megh | The Cloud and The Man | Abhinandan Banerjee | Fiction |
| In God We Trust | In God We Trust | Uma Vangal | Non Fiction |
| Teere Bendho Na | Unanchored | Niranjan Kujur | Fiction |
| Path | Path | Pradip Kurbah | Shorts |

### Manipur Matinée

| Original title | English title | Director(s) | Genre |
| Oneness | Oneness | Priyakanta Laishram | Fiction |
| Sunita | 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

Source:
| 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

| 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 |