Imphal, Sept 25:  Acclaimed filmmaker Meena Longjam’s documentary Andro Dreams has been selected for the 14th Iran International FICTS Festival, adding to its growing international acclaim. The festival, a gateway to the Milan World Competition and part of the Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs (FICTS) network, celebrates films promoting values like unity, perseverance, and sportsmanship.

Andro Dreams follows the inspiring journey of Laibi, an elderly woman from Andro, Manipur, who defies economic struggles and patriarchal barriers to keep her all-girls football club alive. The documentary highlights Laibi’s resilience and the team’s challenges, offering a universal message of strength, cultural pride, and the transformative power of sports. Its selection for the Iran festival comes after a successful debut at the Aswan International Women’s Film Festival in Egypt, where Longjam also participated.

The film’s broad appeal is evident as it resonates with audiences in various Islamic countries, furthering its global recognition. Andro Dreams has already earned numerous accolades, having been showcased at major events like the 15th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) in 2023, the Korean International Ethnographic Film Festival (KIEFF) in Seoul, and the 8th Jagran Film Festival in Mumbai, where it won Best Documentary.

Produced under the “Imphal Documentor” initiative, spearheaded by the Manipur State Film Development Society and Documentary Resource Initiatives, Kolkata, the film was featured in the Indian Panorama 2023 at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. It also earned an Honorable Mention at FICFUSA 2023 in Colombia.

The documentary has strengthened its profile through screenings at the IAWRT Asian Women Film Festival 2024 in New Delhi and the 10th Kolkata People’s Film Festival 2024. Its success lies in its compelling storytelling, which highlights perseverance and women’s empowerment in sports.

The inclusion of Andro Dreams in the Iran International FICTS Festival underscores the increasing recognition of Manipuri and Indian cinema on the global stage. Meena Longjam continues to be a significant voice in Indian filmmaking, with her work breaking cultural barriers and earning widespread praise.

Alongside the documentary’s international success, Andro village in Manipur, where the story is set, has been recognized as one of the Best Tourism Villages in the Heritage category by the Ministry of Tourism this year.