Gangtok, Mar 21: A session titled “International Co-Production With North East India” was held on Saturday at Chintan Bhawan as part of the ongoing Sikkim International Film Festival 2026 Market Schedule.

The festival is being organised by the Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Sikkim, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the National Film Development Corporation.

The panel featured Third Secretary-cum-Vice Consul and Head of the Philippine mission, Ronn Joshua Bautista; Secretary of IPR, Annapurna Alley; and Bhutanese actors Kinley Eudruma and Tshering Dolkar. The session was moderated by NR Group founder Nitesh Rohit.

The discussion focused on the potential of international co-productions involving North East India and neighbouring regions. Speakers addressed cross-border collaboration in cinema, exchange of creative inputs, and the need to strengthen networks among filmmakers, producers and cultural institutions.

Panelists also discussed co-production strategies, film production practices in the Philippines and Bhutan, and aspects of market distribution. The North East region’s cultural diversity, landscapes and storytelling traditions were highlighted as factors contributing to opportunities in international collaborative filmmaking.

The session also examined the role of cinema in cultural exchange and noted the need for platforms that support partnerships between regional and international filmmakers.