ITANAGAR, 6 Mar: The 11th edition of the Arunachal Film Festival (AFF) officially stepped into the spotlight on Friday at TNZ Cinemas, marking a long but purposeful 11-year journey for the region’s storytellers.
Organised by the department of information and public relations (DIPR), the festival has grown into a vital heartbeat for the creative economy, blending technical mastery with the raw, independent spirit of local cinema.
“In a move that truly humanised the proceedings, Deputy CM Chowna Mein chose to attend the event as an ardent movie-goer, sitting among students and delegates to reinforce the idea that cinema is a shared human experience that transcends beyond titles and protocols,” the DIPR informed in a release.
Celebrating a decade of storytelling, Agriculture and Allied Minister Gabriel D Wangsu thanked the DIPR for nurturing the AFF for the last one decade. He expressed optimism that this creative hub for filmmakers would serve as a vibrant window into Arunachal’s deep-rooted traditions and breathtaking scenic beauty.
“By fostering professional discourse,” he said, “the festival is finally giving the state’s rich culture the global stage it deserves,” while also emphasising that “with technological advancement, the film sector has abundant scope for progress in the days to come.”
“In one room, students explored the ‘Fundamentals of animations’ with FTII’s Phidi Pulu, while in another, the top 10 shortlisted student short films were screened to a competitive audience,” the release said.
This focus on the next generation was echoed by IPR Minister Nyato Dukam, who noted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, filmmaking in Arunachal is “set to grow enormously,” so that local voices are finally “heard on a wider scale.”
Among the dignitaries present were MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom and Commissioner Nyali Ete.
Technical excellence took centre stage with a specialised Sony India workshop on ‘cinema camera ecosystems’ providing local creators with the same tools used by industry professionals. Between sessions, attendees engaged in high-level discourse, including a deep-dive into independent filmmaking with Stenzin Tankyong, and a Q&A with producer Ranjan Singh, following a screening of the Anurag Kashyap directed film Kennedy.
Commissioner Ete also highlighted a landmark “ladies’ panel” titled ‘Women shaping the future of cinema’, emphasising a commitment to inclusivity and the evolution of the craft from “conception to the big screen,” the release added.
“The festival’s first day reached an emotional peak with the screening of the opening feature, The Little Monk. As director Nang Tanvi and the crew took the stage for an interactive session with the delegates, it was clear that the 11th AFF is more than just a series of screenings – it is a launchpad for the voices of Arunachal to reach the world,” the DIPR said.
