Celebrated Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma, who is also the Chairman of the Feature Jury of the Indian Panorama section, received a ‘Red Carpet’ reception at the screening of ‘Imagi Ningthem’ at Maquinez Palace theatre, INOX in Goa.
The film was screened as a part of IFFI’s Focus on North East Cinema presently going on at Panjim, Goa. Sharma was accompanied by renowned veteran actor of Manipur Yengkhom Roma, Ksh. Rashi and T. Leikhendra Singh, who acted as a child artiste in ‘Imagi Ningthem’.
“I am delighted and feel honoured. It is a long journey from 1972 onwards to this stage,” Syam Sharma said while addressing the audience.
Earlier on the day, during the interactive session of the Open Forum floated by the Federation of Film Societies of India, Syam Sharma spoke about what really makes an Indian director.
“Are Indian film only the films made in Hindi or Bollywood? What is after all an Indian Film?” Syam Sharma said adding, “When I represent the country in many international film festivals, I am called an Indian Filmmaker, but here in India I am called a Regional Filmmaker. Sometimes we get offended. We are small but seriously and honestly film makers.”
IFFI’s Focus on North East cinema includes fourteen of Syam Sharma’s restrospective films and other films of seven new directors from the north east region.