2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival

2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival

Official logo
Opening film	Ishanou by Aribam Syam Sharma
Closing film	Boong by Lakshmipriya Devi
Location	Imphal, Manipur, India
Founded	2022
Hosted by	Manipur State Film Development Society Manipur State Film & Television Institute
No. of films	53
Festival date	Opening: 6 February 2025 (2025-02-06) Closing: 9 February 2025 (2025-02-09)
Website	eiiff.org
EIIFF
1st

The 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival took place from 6 to 9 February, 2025 at Imphal, Manipur. ^[1] 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). ^{[2] [3]} The opening and closing ceremonies were held at City Convention Centre, Palace Compound. ^[4] 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. ^[5]

Events

Source: ^[6]

• 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

Official selections

The following films have been selected in different categories. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

International Competition: Fiction

Highlighted title indicates award winner

Original title	English title	Director(s)	Production countrie(s)
Village Rockstars 2		Rima Das	India
Boong		Lakshmipriya Devi	India
MA - Cry of Silence		The Maw Naing	Myanmar
Cu Li Never Cries		Pham Ngoc Lan	Vietnam
Ullozhukku	Undercurrent	Christo Tomy	India
Hangman		Vihaan V	India
Tentigo		Ilango Ram	Sri Lanka
Scream		Kenzhebek Shaikakov	Kazakhastan
Yakshanba	Sunday	Shokir Kholikov	Uzbekistan
Buelwa – An Offering		Charmi Chheda	Bhutan
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)
No Winter Holidays		Rajan Kathet & Sunil Pandey	Nepal
Where We Used to Sleep		Matthaus Worle	Germany
Beyond Boundaries		Sankhajit Biswas	Australia
And, Towards Happy Alleys		Sreemoyee Singh	Iran
Andro Dreams		Meena Longjam	India
Agent of Happiness		Arun Bhattarai & Dorottya Zurbó	Bhutan
Bhangaar	Obsolete	Sumira Roy	India
Against The Tide		Sarvnik Kaur	India
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		Samten Bhutia	Sikkim
Bibo Binanao	My Three Sisters	Kenny Deori Basumatary	Assam
Indian Women Atlas		Sunil Dhankher	Manipur
Ade (On a Sunday)		Theja Rio	Nagaland
Karken		Nending Loder	Arunachal Pradesh
Chanchisoa	Expectation	Elvachisa Ch Sangma	Meghalaya
An Unknown Summer		Bhasker Jyoti Das	Assam
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		Mohamad Ali	Syria
Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know...		Chidananda S. Naik	India
Putulnama	Dolls Don’t Die	Ranajit Ray	India
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		Uttam Kamati	Fiction
Appuram	The Other Side	Indu Lakshmi	Fiction
Adim	Primitive	Amitabha Chaterji	Fiction
The Secrets of Radha		Subarna Thapa	Fiction
Manikbabur Megh	The Cloud and The Man	Abhinandan Banerjee	Fiction
In God We Trust		Uma Vangal	Non Fiction
Teere Bendho Na	Unanchored	Niranjan Kujur	Fiction
Path		Pradip Kurbah	Shorts

Manipur Matinée

Original title	English title	Director(s)	Genre
Oneness		Priyakanta Laishram	Fiction
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: ^{[10] [11]}

Award	Film	Director
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	Matthaus Worle
Special Jury Award	Sunday	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

References

1. "Imphal readies for 2nd Eikhoigi Film Festival from Feb 6; to host 57 films, cultural events". The Assam Tribune.
2. "2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2025 Screening Schedule" (PDF). eiiff.org.
3. "Manipur set to host 2nd International Film Festival, showcasing 57 films across four venues". India Today NE.
4. Bikash Singh. "Amid unrest, Manipur hosts 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival". The Economic Times. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
5. "Imphal set to host Intl Film Fest". The Sangai Express.
6. "EIIFF Industry Engagement Events Schedule v1" (PDF). eiiff.org. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
7. "Film festival relief for conflict-scarred Manipur". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
8. "Manipur: Second Edition Of Imphal International Film Festival To Be Held In February". The Sentinel.
9. "2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2025 Official Selection List" (PDF). eiiff.org.
10. "Film Fest concludes". The Sangai Express. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
11. "EIIFF Newsletter Day5 Winners v2" (PDF). eiiff.org. Retrieved 11 February 2025.

External links

• Official website