‘Beyond Blast’, a Manipuri documentary gets selected for Indian Panorama

‘Beyond Blast’, a Manipuri documentary on Konthoujam Maikel Meitei, a bomb blast victim, has been selected as part of the prestigious Indian Panorama Official Selection, paving the way for the 52-minute long documentary to be screened at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2022, to be held from November 20 to 28 in Goa.

The Indian Panorama is a flagship component of the IFFI.

“The jubilant news came on Saturday (October 22) when the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, New Delhi made the announcement of the Indian Panorama Official Selection for this year’s IFFI,” Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) said in a statement.

Kannada feature film, ‘Hadinelentu’ will open the Indian Feature Film section while English language documentary, ‘The Show Must Go On’ is the opening film of the non-feature film, the statement added.

The MSFDS stated that, out of 242 non-feature films that competed for the national selection, only 20 made it to the list. And from northeast India, only two made the cut – Saikhom Ratan’s ‘Beyond Blast’ (Manipur) and Kripal Kalita’s ‘Hatibondhu’ (Assam).

In the feature film section, 354 feature films vied for the selection and only 25 made it to the official selection, the MSFDS also said.

Director of ‘Beyond Blast’, Saikhom Ratan is an award-winning freelance video journalist and a well-known Manipuri cinematographer and filmmaker, having shot many award-winning films. The biographical documentary is produced by Konjengbam Sushila Leima, a prolific writer and film producer said the statement.

‘Beyond Blast’ is her second film that has been made to the Indian Panorama Official Selection. Her ‘Eigi Kona’, a Manipuri feature film, made the cut at 52th IFFI, 2021.

MSFDS congratulated Saikhom Ratan, K Sushila Leima and Oinam Doren (Jury chairperson of the non-feature film of Indian Panorama) for bringing glory to Manipur.

Before the Indian Panorama selection, ‘Beyond Blast’ won several awards at different prestigious film festivals. It won ‘Best Documentary Film in Social Issues’ at the 14th Manipur State Film Awards 2022 organized by MSFDS, Directorate of Art & Culture, Government of Manipur, Official Selection at Sign International Film Festival Kerala, 2022, Official Selection at 13th Film South Asia (FSA), Nepal, Best Documentary (India) in Port Blair International Film Festival, Best Documentary (India) at Filmshor International film festival Kerala 2021 and Honourable Mention Award in Reels International Film Festival 2021 Aurangabad.

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