IT News
Imphal, Mar 23:
ARCUREA, a prestigious 7-day global event hosted by the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata from March 16 to 22, 2024, has emerged as a significant milestone for Manipur in the realm of film preservation and the conservation of cinematic heritage. Positioned as a frontrunner among Indian states in this domain, Manipur showcased its prowess at the event, supported by NDFC-NFAI and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, focusing on vital aspects of film archiving, restoration, and curation.
Among the esteemed institutions contributing insights and experiences was the SN Chand Cine Archive & Museum (SNCCAM), established by the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) under the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur. Despite financial constraints, SNCCAM shared its expertise and innovative approaches in film archiving during the event.
The festival’s inauguration featured the screening of the digitally restored Manipuri classic “Ishanou” (1990), directed by Aribam Syam Sharma and jointly restored by the Film Heritage Foundation and Manipur State Film Development Society. This screening, part of the Festival of Restored Films, celebrated Manipur’s cinematic legacy alongside timeless Indian masterpieces.
A key component of ARCUREA was a two-day international colloquium exploring film’s role as cultural heritage and delving into various facets of film restoration and archiving in the Asian region. Representing MSFDS, film archivist Johnson Rajkumar highlighted Manipur’s remarkable efforts in preserving its cinematic heritage and digitizing its future during a session titled ‘Archiving in Government Institutions in India.’ Rajkumar’s presentation showcased SNCCAM’s achievements, including the successful 4K digitization of “Brojendragee Luhongba,” Manipur’s first film directed by a Manipuri film director, and the preservation of reels from “Mainu Pemcha” (1948), Manipur’s earliest feature film.
The session also unveiled plans to digitize and restore works by MK Priyobarta and Kongbrailatpam Ibohal Sharma’s 8mm actuality films in Bologna, Italy, highlighting SNCCAM’s commitment to advancing its archival efforts.
This impressive display of Manipur’s film preservation endeavors underscores its unique status as the only Indian state with a state-owned film archive featuring a conservation laboratory dedicated to preserving deteriorating films for future generations.
In addition to SNCCAM’s contributions, presentations from Pasar Bharati and Kerala film archives further enriched the event, emphasizing collective efforts towards safeguarding India’s cinematic heritage.
