NEW DELHI, Aug 23 - The Centre is fast tracking the process of establishing the film institute at Arunachal Pradesh, initiated as part of the overall vision to promote and strengthen youth talent in the Northeastern Region, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col Rajyavardhan Rathore said.
The Minister was inaugurating a three-day festival of cinema from the Northeastern States �Fragrances of the NE� here on Friday.
The Minister of State said that the Government intended to make the North East Film Festival, a �People�s Movement� which would become better with each passing year. The Government remain committed to promote and facilitate popular cinema of the NE so that long lasting brand equity to the films of the region could be established through such events and film festivals, he added.
Elaborating further, the Minister mentioned that the films from the NE always attracted attention in International Film Festivals and in academic circles for their canvas of human emotions and their reflections of society. The increase in representation of cinema at such events was definitely a healthy sign of growing culture of cinema in the region. It also reiterated the willingness of creative artists to venture in the medium of cinema. He further mentioned that the creative talent from the region had been regularly winning national and international awards, and travelling to prestigious international festivals over the decades.
Listing out his Ministry�s priorities, Rathore said they had undertaken special measures to promote the flow of quality information in the region through the Prasar Bharati network. The current FM Phase III auction had earmarked 15 channels for bidding which would enable the growth of radio in the region in the private FM domain.
The Minister highlighted the measures being taken to promote quality education in the field of journalism through the Indian Institute of Mass Communication currently at Aizawl.
Addressing the function, Union Minister for State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Sarbananda Sonowal said that such festivals showcased the youth talent of the region and reiterated the cinematic legacy of the region.
The inaugural ceremony got underway with the premiere screening of Manipuri feature film �Pallepfam� which is directed and produced by WanglenKhundongban, which is also his debut film.
