Manipur State Film Development Society to hold intensive workshops on film production and preservation 

Guwahati: In a bid to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for film preservation and production, the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) has announced two intensive workshops set to take place from April 4 to 7 this year.

These workshops are part of the commemoration of the third foundation of its SN Chand Cine Archive & Museum (SNCCAM), as well as the birth of Manipuri Cinema, known as the 'Mami Numit.'

The three-day intensive, hand-on training workshop on film preservation, slated from April 4 to 6, will be conducted by film conservator Johnson Rajkumar, who has won accolades, including the 'Champions of Film Heritage Award 2022' for his commitment to film preservation and laying the foundation of SNCCAM.

The workshop will cover a range of topics, including preservation of film, video, audio and digital formats. Participants can expect to gain practical skills and theoretical understanding of film conservation and restoration, as well as digitisation techniques.

Simultaneously, a two-day intensive producer’s lab, tailored for practicing producers, filmmakers and aspirants, is slated for April 6 to 7.

It will cover all aspects of film producing, from script to screen, comprising different facets of producing films such as ideation, script development, budgeting, pitching for funding, film markets, acquisition of rights and film distribution strategies.

Special focus will be laid on developing a winning pitch for a film project to prospective financers, investors or production companies, nationally or internationally.

The first-ever lab, designed for producers in Manipur, would be mentored by Alexander Leo Pou, Director of the Manipur State Film & Television Institute (MSFTI), under Manipur government’s Directorate of Art & Culture.

Pou is an alumnus of Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI), who specialised in film producing.

He has also worked as an Film Facilitation Officer, East and Northeast region, of the Film Facilitation Office (FFO) of Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting's National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

He went on to serve as the Deputy Manager of film production at the branch of the organisation in Mumbai before taking the rein of MSFTI.

The workshops hold particular significance as they coincide with the third foundation day of the SNCCAM, established during the golden jubilee celebrations of Manipuri cinema in 2021.

Incidentally, SNCCAM is the only state-run film archiving and museum in India, having a film conservatory lab for film maintenance and training activities, and a film vault room for preserving celluloid negative and positive prints.

The valediction function for these workshops is scheduled for April 9, also known as Mami Numit, the birth anniversary of Manipuri cinema.

The function will be held at the Palace Auditorium, where participants will join in a commemorative programme, honouring both the foundation day of SNCCAM and the Mami Numit.

A special feature of Mami Numit observation includes offering homage and floral tribute at the Manipuri Cinema Memorial Monolith at the MSFDS complex situated at Konung Mamang.

With these intensive labs, MSFDS aims to not only nurture talent in film preservation and production but also to celebrate the vibrant legacy of Manipuri cinema.

Practicing producers, filmmakers, film archivists and conservators, besides enthusiasts and aspirants are encouraged to seize this unique opportunity by logging on the notification for online application for the workshop and lab.