‘Dreams and Chaos’ wins Best Web Series award at KIIFFA

Temsuwapang, member of the technical team of the web series Dreams and Chaos receiving the award on behalf of the team on April 4.

Temsuwapang, member of the technical team of the web series Dreams and Chaos receiving the award on behalf of the team on April 4.

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 4

After months of engaging viewers across Nagaland and outside, the homegrown web series titled ‘Dreams and Chaos’, won the ‘Best Web Series’ award at Kashi Indian International Film Festival Awards (KIIFFA) on April 4. The awards ceremony was held at Hansraj College in Delhi on Sunday.

‘Dreams and Chaos’ was the first ever web series adapted from the novel by the same name written by Sentilong Ozukum. It was created by Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo (DABA) Youth Ministry and is the sequel to Sentilong’s first book Campus Blues.

The 7-episode long web series had a major fan following since its release on November 13, 2020 and its last episode was released on December 25, 2020 with over 107K views on the DABA Youth Ministry YouTube channel. 

Speaking to The Morung Express, ‘Dreams and Chaos’ director Bendang Walling, expressed delight at the web series winning an Indian international film award.

It was nominated along with Unlocking Mind directed by Alok Nath Dixit in the web series category.

“It is really a surreal moment for us to receive such a great honor,” Walling said in the Director’s note, while thanking the founders of KIIFFA for the honor.

Sharing his experience, Walling noted that after more than 20 years of film making, there has been a change of environment in Nagaland as well.

It is not just about entertainment now, but the present generation loves to share stories in a creative and relatable way, he observed. He welcomed the ability to present the ‘essence of being Naga’ through such platforms.

The concept of web series is relatively new in the State, but the support and encouragement Dreams and Chaos received has been immense, he said.

Acknowledging the DABA Youth Ministry’s initiative, Walling also said that the involvement of the Church in such projects encourage the youth. He expressed hope that more Churches would take up initiatives to engage and promote youth in the State.

Describing the journey of making the web series as ‘beautiful’, Walling also commended the actors and commended the potential of youth in the State.

“I hope that through such ‘unexpected’ awards, our Naga people would be encouraged to move beyond the concept of government jobs,” he shared.

This award should be an example and an encouragement for our younger generations so that one day, we can see a ‘new Nagaland’, he added.

For us also, it is a big motivation, Walling said, and shared optimism about having a Naga film industry in the near future.

Sharing about his future plans and projects, Walling said that he has been working on a short film. The shooting has been wrapped up and it is due for release this month, he added.

The DABA Youth Ministry in its YouTube channel wrote, “This is a humble moment for our Youth Ministry to be recognized on our humble project.” It thanked the team and all the viewers for their support and encouragement.

KIIFFA is a global platform to promote and support the development of the cinema around the world. It is for screening and promotion of independent films, exchange of knowledge, information, ideas, culture and values between India and other nations. The Film Festival is a “movie marathon” which showcases back to back best films shortlisted under various categories. The festival committee selects the winners and awards them with prizes, trophies and cash prizes.