GOA, Nov 28: A panel discussion on “New Northeast Cinema and Film Schools” was held on Thursday at the Kala Academy Auditorium as part of the eighth day of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Goa 2025, bringing together leading filmmakers from the region to discuss evolving opportunities and challenges in cinema.
Veteran Manipuri filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar recalled the difficulties faced by aspiring filmmakers from the Northeast in the 1990s, a time when film education was limited to only two major institutions—FTII Pune and SRFTI Kolkata. He spoke of the intense competition, limited access, and the struggle for representation that shaped the journeys of many filmmakers from the region.
The session was moderated by filmmaker Dominic Sangma and featured panelists Haobam Paban Kumar, Assamese filmmaker Reema Borah, and Mahrishi Tuhin Kashyap, all of whom shared insights into the rapid growth of North-East cinema. They discussed how new film schools, wider platforms, and digital accessibility are enabling emerging talent to pursue filmmaking with greater confidence and visibility.
The panel examined the expanding creative ecosystem, emphasising the importance of institutional support, regional storytelling, and training opportunities in nurturing the next generation of filmmakers from the Northeast. The discussion also highlighted how fresh voices and distinctive cultural narratives from the region are reshaping the contemporary Indian cinema landscape.
