ITANAGAR, Mar 8: The three-day Arunachal Film Festival, which began on March 6, concluded on Sunday with film screenings, interactive sessions and an award ceremony celebrating cinematic excellence.
The final day began with a workshop on “Cinematography: Cinema in Visual Storytelling” conducted by noted cinematographer Sunny Joseph (ISC). Students from the Department of Mass Communication of Saint Claret College, Ziro, attended the session and actively participated in the discussions.
During the workshop, Joseph spoke about the fundamental elements of cinema such as space and time, referring to the concept of “sculpting in time” by filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. He emphasised that light is the most basic raw material of filmmaking and explained how cinema has the unique ability to portray past, present and future within a single frame. He also elaborated on the principles of affinity and contrast in visual storytelling.
The day featured screenings of shortlisted entries under the Short Film Competition Section, including Kangbo Aloti – The Lost Path directed by Khanjan Kishore Nath, followed by an interaction with the director and crew.
In the afternoon, audiences watched the feature film Karken by Niending Loder and the documentary Songs of Forgotten Trees by Anuparna Roy Singh, both followed by interactive sessions with the filmmakers.
Another highlight of the festival was an “In Conversation” session titled “From Regional Roots to National Screen: The Actor’s Journey” with noted actor Paalin Kabak, known for his roles in Bhediya and the web series The Family Man. Kabak shared insights into his journey in cinema, speaking about his early exposure to folk theatre and his theatre experience at Delhi University before training at the National School of Drama. He stressed the importance of professionalism, collaboration and strong work culture in building a sustainable film ecosystem in Arunachal Pradesh.
The closing film of the festival was Bokshi by Bhargav Saikia, which drew a packed audience, particularly as it features Arunachali actor Dagi Ngomdir in the cast.
The festival concluded with an awards ceremony recognising outstanding films. The Best Documentary Film Award went to Boi-Thaka: The Flow of Resilience directed by Pranami Koch. The Best Short Film (Local Filmmaker Category) was awarded to Sum of All Choices by Chow Molatan Mantaw, while the Student Film Award was presented to We Heard the World Looks Beautiful directed by Shreyas Mandharr.
Mantaw also won the Short Grant Pitch Award for his project “PAA SAA”, receiving a cash grant of Rs 5 lakh to support the development of the film.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Information and Public Relations Minister Nyato Dukam appreciated the efforts of the Department of Information and Public Relations, and the organising committee. He said the festival has provided a valuable platform for young filmmakers and assured continued government support to strengthen the event in the coming years.
As the curtains fell on the three-day celebration, the festival once again highlighted Arunachal Pradesh’s growing storytelling potential and its emerging presence in the national cinematic landscape.