Report

Road Show of North East Documentary Film Festival, Aizawl
Jointly Organized by Directorate of Information & Public Relations, Government of Mizoram
&
Institute of Environmental Management & Social Development,
Regional Office, Guwahati

Date: 8 October to 11 October 2005

INTRODUCTION

North East Documentary Film festival organized by the Institute of Environmental Management and Social Development was a success and as planned, the winning documentaries were taken for the road show. Road show of North East Documentary Film Festival, Aizawl organized by joint efforts of DIPR (Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Government of Mizoram) an IEMSD (Institute of Environmental Management and Social Development, Regional office, Guwahati).
Moreover this event was the platform to the first Mizo Documentary film festival, also held during the fest. This road show attained a reasonable response from the participants and people in general. All entries were categorized into development, culture and environment, for the simple reason that these are three main aspects for development of North East India.

DAY ONE (8 October, Saturday)

The road show was inaugurated by His Excellency Shri. A.R Kohli, Governor of Mizoram and the chairperson for this event was Mr. L.R.Sailo, Director, Information & Public Relations. After the welcome speech by the Secretary, I & PR, Government of Mizoram, Ashish Chopra, Executive Director, IEMSD presented a brief report on the 1st documentary Film Festival. The Governor of Mizoram spoke on the importance of documentary films, He was of the opinion that documentary films could become useful tools for imparting intimate knowledge about a region that rest of the country is not much aware of. He urged the producers of documentaries to film the traditions of the people, the regions bio-diversity and colourful customs. Mentioning film making of Mizoram in particular he pointed out that there was scope for improvement in areas of acting and other technical aspects.
Inaugural day of the festival involved the screening the best documentary from 1st North East Documentary Film festival- Jaws of Death, directed by Gautam Saikia. Joint Director, I & PR, Khawevelthanga presented the vote of thanks.
The same day, special screening of critically acclaimed Dansh took place. This film is about the phase of MNF's secession movement. The director of the film Kanika Verma was present on this occasion.

Day Two (10 October, Monday)

Second day of the festival was scheduled for screening of documentaries which were state winners and also few others from the 1st Documentary festival, Shillong. The documentaries were:

LIST OF DOCUMENTARIES SCREENED

Title	Director	State
THE VANISHING NAMDAH	MARNIA DOYONG	ARUNACHAL PRADESH
FROM ORPHANAGE TO OLYMPICS	BOBBY WAHENGBAM	MANIPUR
TINGVONG: A LEPCHA VILLAGE IN SKKIM	NAMGYAL INSTITUTE OF TIBETILOGY	SIKKIM
BELIEVERS	N. KUOTSO, R. KHYNEM&S.J. SHIMRAH	MEGHALAYA
FLAME IN WATER	KAMAL KALAI	TRIPURA
THE JOY OF GIVING	ALTAF MAZID	ASSAM
A LEAF, A TREE AND WE	BIKASH DHAR	TRIPURA
MYSTICAL TAWANG	SABRA NAGI	ST. ANTHONY COLLEGE, SHILLONG

 

Day Three (11 October, Tuesday)

The day began with the screening of the documentary films from Mizoram for the First Mizo Documentary Film Festival, which received a very encouraging response. The jury members for this event consisted of people from varied and valid fields.

MEMBERS OF THE JURY

1) Biakthansanga, ZONET
2) Laltlunangliana Khiangte, Head of Department, Of Mizo, Mizoram University
3) Sangzela Tlau, Executive Producer, Zozm Audio Visual Inc.
4) Grace Pachuau, Teacher, Govt. Mizo HSS
5) T. Siama, DDK

LIST OF DOCUMENTARIES SCREENED

Director	Title
SALEMTHARA PACHUAU	HNAM INPUMKHATNA (NATIONAL INTEGRATION)
	EI LEH BARA ZORAM HMASAWNNA (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF MIZORAM)
ALDRIN ZOSANGLIANA	SINGLA RIVER VALLEY PROJECT
	ABIGAMIN TLANG SANG LAMAH (CLIMBING MT. ABIGAMIN)
IRENE LALRUATKIMI (TLANGNUAM)	ZORAM TANG FAN FAN (DON'T GIVE UP ZORAM)
A. ZOTINKHUMA	FOREST KHAWVEL A TAKIN (THE WORLD OF FORESTS: A CLOSER LOOK)
	TANPUI VARTU HNAI RENG (HELP IS NIGH)
C. VANLALRUATA	RALMUANNALEH HMASAWNNA Episode 1
	RALMUANNALEH HMASAWNNA Episode 2
IRENE LALRUATKIMI	POLYTHENE LEH ZORAM
DAVE CHHAKCHHUAK	GRAPE WINE vs. MLTP
	SERLUI 'B' MINI HYDEL PROJECT

VALEDICTORY

The prize money for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd best documentaries were Rs 7000, Rs5000, and Rs 3000 respectively. This was jointly contributed by DIPR, Government of Mizoram and IEMSD, regional office, Guwahati.
The turn up of audience on this day was relatively better. Participants, university students, higher secondary school children, and teachers were the major viewers for this event.
Jury member Laltlunangliana Khiangte, put forward suggestions, comments, insight and general feed back about the documentaries.
The awards were presented by L.R. Sailo, Director, Information & Public Relation (I&PR), Khawvelthanga, Jt. Director, I&PR, and Ashish Chopra, Executive Director, IEMSD.

WINNERS OF 1st MIZO DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL

The first prize went to Irene Lalruatkimi, for the documentary Polythene Leh Zoram. This documentary concentrates on the harmful effects of polythene and plastic bags, which are widely used in Mizoram. The air and land pollution caused by polythene bags is harmful and government has yet to come up with an eco- friendly solution to dispose these harmful wastes. The film aims at creating a greater awareness among the people and suggests useful and easily available alternatives to polythene and plastic.
Winner of the second best documentary was A. Zotinkhuma for his documentary Tanpui Vartu Hnai Reng (Help is nigh). This documentary was sponsored by the Social Welfare department, this film was made by Zotinkhuma to highlight the achievements of the department in serving the people - people who are in need. Its also shows the steps taken by the department and its commendable success in helping the disabled, the orphans, the homeless and even the drug addicts and the street- workers to get a new lease of life.
C. Vanlalruata, received the prize for the 3rd best documentary. His documentary, Rammuannaleh Hmasawnna Episode 1, showed pace the development that Mizoram has seen since the time Peace Accord was signed.