Shillong, Mar 25: The 1st Shillong International Film Festival commenced at the State Convention Centre here today, with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma describing it as a “proud moment” that is a significant step towards building a robust creative ecosystem in the state.
The three-day film festival will showcase a curated selection of 18 films from the North East with films also from Bhutan and Vietnam. Entry is free for all to attend. On the opening day, the film Ha Lyngkha Bneng, directed by Pradip Kurbah, was screened for the audience.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma said the festival has been a long-standing vision aimed at providing a platform for the state’s youth, whom he described as “immensely talented but lacking opportunities and exposure.”
He stressed that storytelling, culture and heritage are deeply rooted in the identity of the people of Meghalaya and the North East and highlighted the need to showcase these narratives on a global stage.
“The stories of our people and our culture must be shared with the rest of the world,” the CM said, adding that the film sector holds vast potential not just for actors and filmmakers but also for technical and allied professions.
He outlined several initiatives undertaken by the government to support the creative sector, including a state-run OTT platform, financial assistance for filmmakers, and funding for grassroots artists through programs like the Meghalaya Grassroots Music Programme (MGMP), which currently supports thousands of artists across the state.
Sangma also revealed that the government has recently approved a proposal for a film city, aimed at positioning Shillong and Meghalaya as a preferred destination for filmmaking in the North East.
“The idea is not just to build infrastructure, but to send a strong message that Meghalaya is ready to lead in the creative and film industry,” he said. “This is not about one programme or one festival. It is about a larger vision to create opportunities, build capacity, and ensure sustainable growth of the creative sector,” he stated.
He urged stakeholders and participants to contribute ideas and support the vision of transforming the festival into a globally recognised platform in the coming decade.
Information and Public Relations Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said that film making in the state has picked up momentum in the last decade and alluded to film making as a creative economy. He urged the young minds in film making to enrich their knowledge in the art of film making by diligently participating in the sessions of the three-day film festival.
Chief Secretary Shakil P Ahammed said that Meghalaya is known for stories and films are one of the strongest tools to narrate the story. He added that with the film policy of the state and other interventions and initiatives the local talent will now merge with the global field of film world which is one of the most vibrant sectors and the state has taken the film sector as a major industry where the gaps in the industry will be supported by the government creating avenues and expanding the horizons for the creative industry.
The Chief Minister and the other dignitaries also felicitated film makers and prominent film personalities during the inaugural session.
