Film Northeast-2016 to reflect region's rich culture: Arunachal CM

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has said that the maiden four-day Film Northeast-2016 from February 17, 2016, will be a biennial event that will create a platform to encourage the north east film fraternity.

"Arunachal Pradesh is witnessing sea changes in development of IT, media, films and culture, with local youth achieving their goals," said Tuki earlier this week.

Tuki is right as recently, IPR directorate panellists selected highly talented and qualified Gyamar Neme, Dogin Randa and Banta Natung as the festival's curators and coordinators.

"We are now capable of competing with other developed states," Tuki said, citing the example of Namsai, Kurung Kumey and East Siang Districts being ranked in the first three positions at the Digital India Week celebration by the central government.

The chief minister said that picturesque and scenic Jote would soon have a regional film and television institute. He added that Jote would also become an education hub with NIT and other important institutes coming up there.

Assuring all possible help to anyone intending to shoot in this 'Land of the Rising Sun' located in the lap of the Himalayas, Tuki called for this venture to be taken up in mission mode by channelising local youth and upcoming film makers.

The film festival would conclude on Statehood Day, he said.

IPR, being the nodal department, would collaborate with the Film Federation of Arunachal (FFA) to promote the state's rich culture and traditional hospitality," said IPR, Culture and Education Parliamentary Secretary Bamang Felix.

"Education educates only three to four lakh people, but the IPR department along with you (media) have to educate 14 lakh people," Felix said, reminding the media of its social responsibility.

"Films are great entertainers, but also serve as a bridge to cultural understanding, social transformation and to hear the unheard, said Chief Secretary Ramesh Negi, adding that he foresaw a huge opportunity emerging from the festival.

"It would be a great harbinger of better cultural understanding of the north east, reflecting culture, creativity and compassion for the rest of the country to understand by this pioneering effort, Negi added.

Earlier, the chief guests launched the wall calendar and table top calendar at the press information centre (PIC).