The 2nd North East India Film Festival (NEIFF) 2025, which began on February 12 at the City Convention Centre, Imphal, concluded on Sunday at the Library & Information Centre, Kakching, with an awards ceremony and cultural performances.
The festival was jointly organized by THOUNA, Manipur, in collaboration with the Film Forum Manipur and the Directorate of Information & Public Relations, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
During the awards ceremony, the Manipuri feature film Oitharei was declared Best Feature Film, while the Assamese film Where Is My Home won Best Non-Feature Film. Citations and cash prizes were presented to the winners. Oitharei was produced by Gibanlata Thokchom and directed by Dinesh Naorem, while Where Is My Home was produced by Samiran Deka and directed by Bhaskar Jyoti Das.
Attending the event as the chief guest, Thongju MLA Th. Biswajit highlighted cinema’s role in storytelling, cultural expression, and social influence, stressing the importance of quality over quantity in filmmaking. IPR and Art & Culture Commissioner M. Joy Singh emphasized the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the need for excellence to create impactful films.
Kakching MLA M. Rameshwar Singh called for a focus on positive and progressive storytelling, while Wangkhei MLA Th. Arunkumar noted the challenges faced by the industry, such as budget constraints and lack of funding.
The five-day festival showcased 28 films, including six Assamese films, screened across three venues—City Convention Centre, Tanthapolis Cinema, and Library & Information Centre. Out of these, ten films received awards in various categories.
Other award winners included:
Best Direction – Amateurs (Assamese) directed by Dhiraj Kashyap
Best Screenplay – Binoranjan Oinam for Langdai Ama (Manipuri)
Best Editing – Tarun Wang for Laangoi
Best Cinematography – Joy Mekola for Oitharei
Best Sound – Debajit Ghayan for Baghjan (Assam)
Special Jury Award – Actor Narmada for Sunita
Special Mention (Non-Feature Film) – The Legacy of 4 Generations
Special Mention (Feature Film) – Sunita
The festival successfully celebrated cinema’s role in cultural preservation and exchange, strengthening regional ties across Northeast India.
