A panel discussion on “New North-East Cinema and Film Schools” was held today at the Kala Academy Auditorium on the eighth day of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Goa 2025.
Veteran Manipuri filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar reflected on his early struggles in pursuing formal film education during the 1990s, when only two premier institutions—FTII Pune and SRFTI Kolkata—were accessible to aspiring filmmakers. He highlighted the intense competition and limited opportunities faced by film enthusiasts from the North-East during that period.
The session, moderated by filmmaker Dominic Sangma, featured notable voices from the region, including Haobam Paban Kumar, Assamese filmmaker Reema Borah, and Mahrishi Tuhin Kashyap. The panel explored the growing landscape of North-East cinema and the evolving role of film schools in nurturing new talent.
