Promote Manipuri Movies: Why the Governor’s Push Could Reboot a Proud Cinema
On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, Sunzu Bachaspatimayum, Secretary of the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan and urged “concrete steps” to promote Manipuri films. The meeting covered manpower shortages, infrastructure gaps, and pending liabilities from the 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival (EIIFF). The Governor was also briefed on promotional projects and the upcoming Manipur State Film Awards. Notably, at EIIFF 2025, Myanmar’s MA—Cry of Silence won Best Fiction Feature and Bhutan’s Agent of Happiness took Best Non-Fiction Feature, highlighting Imphal’s growing festival profile.
A Quick Look at the Festival Halo
If you want proof that people outside Manipur are watching, look at EIIFF 2025: a global slate of 54 films (38 international entries from 13 countries) screened in Imphal, with MA—Cry of Silence (Myanmar) and Agent of Happiness (Bhutan) taking the top Fiction and Non-Fiction awards respectively. That’s not just bragging rights—it’s a platform that can attract distributors, draw press, and inspire local filmmakers to raise their game. The catch? Festivals cost money, and pending liabilities can spook future partners. Cleaning up those dues is more than housekeeping—it’s reputation management.
What MSFDS Put on the Table
Based on the communique shared from the Governor’s office and coverage from regional outlets, the MSFDS agenda included four pillars:
- Promotional Projects – Initiatives in the pipeline to showcase Manipuri cinema more widely, including heritage preservation and outreach.
- Manpower Constraints – A skills gap across production, post, and exhibition that slows quality output.
- Infrastructure Expansion – From soundstages and post labs to reliable digital screening venues across districts.
- Financial Liabilities – Outstanding dues from EIIFF 2025 that need timely resolution to maintain credibility with partners and guests.
FAQs
Q1. What exactly did MSFDS ask from the Governor?
They raised the need for concrete promotion of Manipuri films, flagged manpower shortages, called for infrastructure expansion, and highlighted pending liabilities from EIIFF 2025—all while updating the Governor on ongoing heritage projects and the upcoming Manipur State Film Awards.
Q2. Why mention EIIFF—what’s its importance?
EIIFF positions Imphal on the regional festival map. In 2025 it screened 54 films (38 international from 13 countries), with Myanmar’s MA—Cry of Silence and Bhutan’s Agent of Happiness winning top honors—evidence that the world is already watching.
Q3. How does the Governor’s role practically help films?
The Governor can convene departments, encourage inter-state cooperation, nudge policy tweaks (rebates, permissions), and offer visibility. With Ajay Kumar Bhalla additionally overseeing Nagaland, cross-border showcases become easier to pull off.
Q4. What’s the fastest, most realistic first step for impact?
Clear outstanding festival dues, stand up two micro-cinemas with calibrated projection and sound, and subsidize subtitling for the next slate. That trio expands trust, screens, and reach—fast.
Q5. Will all this really bring money into the ecosystem?
Yes—incrementally. More screens plus subtitled releases create revenue paths (theatrical, campus circuits, OTT). With small but steady cashflows, filmmakers finish stronger and start sooner, and the ecosystem compounds over time.
