Crew members shooting an outdoor scene during last July’s filming of the 27 minutes short film titled ‘Bamboo Boys’ at Khonoma Village, Kohima. The film is directed by Raaghav Dar from Mumbai while the entire casting has been done by Dreamz Unlimited- Theatre Society in Nagaland. (Photo Courtesy: Dreamz Unlimited)
Dimapur | September 10 : The impact of films on society is undeniable. However, the launch of a Short Film Club in Dimapur went unnoticed sans a handful of people that attended the free screening or avid newspaper readers that read the next day’s review. This short film club is in fact a first of its kind in Nagaland.
For long, (pun intended) short films have always been associated with documentaries and it still is in Nagaland. Say short film and automatically the audience thinks ‘documentary. But recently short films have known to entertain as good as any feature film. Filmmaker, Co-owner & founder of Guwahati International Short Film Festival, Prithish Chakraborty is the best person to comment on this. Having founded Creovaent Productions - a production house based from Guwahati, Assam, he feels that there is a vast difference between Short Films and Documentary Films. “In layman’s language, short films are shorter version of any feature film. Short Films has the capability of entertaining people in a short span of time and with present generation, I am hopeful that short film market in India will grow like we have in Spain, Australia, USA and other places,” he says.
Prithish is also of the opinion that films (Short/Feature Film) can create an impact in our society but everything depends on how one takes the subject and presents it. For example, one of the films screened at the aforesaid mentioned Club was “Blood Brothers” by Vishal Bhardwaj which tries to educate people about the basic difference between HIV positive and AIDS in an entertaining manner. It all depends on the director and how you present it. Prithish says frankly that Short Film market is coming up in India and it will take some time to get people acquaint with the concept of short films.
And for the lot that was lucky enough to view the short films at Hiyo Café, Dimapur the perception seem to have changed. Having been welcomed to the thrilling world of short films, this is what one had to say: “My understanding of what short film genre is has changed. The films were entertaining in a much lesser time span.”
Prithish revealed that the main motive of starting the short film across North-East India is to give a platform for young filmmakers to come up and showcase their talent and also it will give exposure to the latest trends in short filmmaking to the film lovers by watching award winning short films. Hence, filmmakers and film lovers from Nagaland can now get a platform where they can come together to get expose to award winning short films from all over the world.
Even filmmakers from Nagaland can submit their short films to the club and the club management will review the same. The screening for the club will be done every month once at Hiyo Café, Dimapur.
Betoka Swu, proprietor of Hiyio Café and a managing partner of Creovaent & Shamiana Short Film Club Dimapur says that outside the realm of Nagaland, short films have already gained good market space and finally the fever seems to have reached here. He said that the principle aim of introducing a short film club is not just watching good films, but simultaneously showcase work by Naga filmmakers to the world. Beto also says that at the inaugural, four films were screened and was well received from the audience. Also it brought an amalgamation of different filmmakers in Nagaland come together. Sighted were independent filmmakers, members from the Nagamese film fraternity and young aspirant filmmakers. Beto also says that the initiative will hopefully educate the young minds about filmmaking and provide a creative space for upcoming talented filmmakers.
So Film enthusiasts, aspiring filmmakers and all those interested in the medium, here’s a new venture that holds exciting potential. For an almost absent film culture, let alone short film, this is indeed a monumental achievement. The reel is still rolling, for come first week October Hiyo Café is collaborating with The Naga blog and Headhunters Entertainment for yet another short film evening.
For long, (pun intended) short films have always been associated with documentaries and it still is in Nagaland. Say short film and automatically the audience thinks ‘documentary. But recently short films have known to entertain as good as any feature film. Filmmaker, Co-owner & founder of Guwahati International Short Film Festival, Prithish Chakraborty is the best person to comment on this. Having founded Creovaent Productions - a production house based from Guwahati, Assam, he feels that there is a vast difference between Short Films and Documentary Films. “In layman’s language, short films are shorter version of any feature film. Short Films has the capability of entertaining people in a short span of time and with present generation, I am hopeful that short film market in India will grow like we have in Spain, Australia, USA and other places,” he says.
Prithish is also of the opinion that films (Short/Feature Film) can create an impact in our society but everything depends on how one takes the subject and presents it. For example, one of the films screened at the aforesaid mentioned Club was “Blood Brothers” by Vishal Bhardwaj which tries to educate people about the basic difference between HIV positive and AIDS in an entertaining manner. It all depends on the director and how you present it. Prithish says frankly that Short Film market is coming up in India and it will take some time to get people acquaint with the concept of short films.
And for the lot that was lucky enough to view the short films at Hiyo Café, Dimapur the perception seem to have changed. Having been welcomed to the thrilling world of short films, this is what one had to say: “My understanding of what short film genre is has changed. The films were entertaining in a much lesser time span.”
Prithish revealed that the main motive of starting the short film across North-East India is to give a platform for young filmmakers to come up and showcase their talent and also it will give exposure to the latest trends in short filmmaking to the film lovers by watching award winning short films. Hence, filmmakers and film lovers from Nagaland can now get a platform where they can come together to get expose to award winning short films from all over the world.
Even filmmakers from Nagaland can submit their short films to the club and the club management will review the same. The screening for the club will be done every month once at Hiyo Café, Dimapur.
Betoka Swu, proprietor of Hiyio Café and a managing partner of Creovaent & Shamiana Short Film Club Dimapur says that outside the realm of Nagaland, short films have already gained good market space and finally the fever seems to have reached here. He said that the principle aim of introducing a short film club is not just watching good films, but simultaneously showcase work by Naga filmmakers to the world. Beto also says that at the inaugural, four films were screened and was well received from the audience. Also it brought an amalgamation of different filmmakers in Nagaland come together. Sighted were independent filmmakers, members from the Nagamese film fraternity and young aspirant filmmakers. Beto also says that the initiative will hopefully educate the young minds about filmmaking and provide a creative space for upcoming talented filmmakers.
So Film enthusiasts, aspiring filmmakers and all those interested in the medium, here’s a new venture that holds exciting potential. For an almost absent film culture, let alone short film, this is indeed a monumental achievement. The reel is still rolling, for come first week October Hiyo Café is collaborating with The Naga blog and Headhunters Entertainment for yet another short film evening.
