The Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI) is celebrating International Women’s Day with the Women’s Film Festival 2021 from March 8-9, 2021 at around 30 places throughout India, showcasing a melange of critically acclaimed films directed by woman filmmakers.
In Manipur, the Film Society of Manipur established in 1966, the 3rd oldest film society in North East India is organising the celebration with the festival at three districts in Manipur under the aegis of the Federation of Film Societies of India..
In Imphal East District, the Film Society of Manipur and the Manipur State Film Development Society will jointly organise the festival at the Palace Auditorium of Manipur Sate Film Development Society, Palace gate.
Dr Seelaramani Chungkham, the Principal of DM College of Arts will grace the opening function to be held at 2pm on March 8th 2021 as Chief Guest, Salam Rajesh, Vice President of Film Society of Manipur as President and Sunzu Bachashpatimayum as Guest of Honour..
In Imphal West District, the Manipur University Working Women’s Association( MUWWA), Arts Leadership Council-Manipur Chapter, Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry(WICCI), Deaprtmant of Mass Communication, Manipur University with Film Society of Manipur will organise the festival at the Seminar Hall of the Department of Mass Communication, Manpur University at Canchipur.
Prof. S. Sanatombi Singha, Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University will inaugurate the festival at 10,30 am on March 5, 2021. Meghachandra Kongbam, President of Film Society Manipur will grace the function as Guest of Honour and Prof Sumitra Phanjoubam, President of Manipur University Working Women’s Association as President. Prof K Shantibala will deliver a talk on the occasion.
In Kakching district, the Library and Information Centre, Kakching, Image TV Kakching, Cine Club of Kha Manipur College Kakching and Film Society of Manipur will jointly organise the 2-day festival at the Auditorium of the Library and Information Centre, Kakching.
At the inaugural function to be held at 1 pm on the 8th March 2021, Kh. Sundari Devi, former Principal of Padma Ratna English School as Chief Guest will inaugurate the festival at Kakching. Meghachandra Kongbam, President of Film Society of Manipur , Dr. Makhonmani Mongsaba, eminent film maker and Uttamkumar Naorem, Director of Liberty Theatre, Kakching will be the Guests of Honour. P. Raghu Singh, Principal of Kha Manipur College, Kakching and P. Shampha Singh, President of the Library and Information Centre, Kakching will be presidium members to preside over the inaugural function.
A package of seven films- The Day I Became A Woman (2019), Bengali Documentary, 35M. Dir. Moupia Mukherjee. Begamon Ka Bhopal(2018), Urdu, Documentary, 27M. Dir. Rachita Gorowala.  Anahita’s Law (2019), English, Short Fiction, 21M. Dir. Oorvazi Irani. Imaginary Homes (2020), Punjabi, Short Fiction, 17M, Dir. Priya Naresh. In the Land of Poison Women (2019), Pangchenpa, Feature, 104M. Dir. Manju Borah. Stand Up (2019), Malayalam, Feature, 118M, Dir. Vidhu Vincent and Run Kalyani (2019), Malayalam, Feature, 100M. Dir. Geetha J from the Federation of Film Societies of India will be screened in these festivals.
As a special attraction of the Festival to be held at MSFDS, Palace gate, Sonia Nepram’s 46 minute Manipuri documentary- Bloody Phanek will be screened with question and answer session with the filmmaker.