'Film festival-2016' to showcase cinema of the region

Jointly organised by the Information and Public Relation department in association with the Film Federation of Arunachal (FFA), the four-day event coinciding with the Statehood Day celebration on February 20, was formally announced by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki today during a press conference.

Stating that there was no dearth of talents in the state, Tuki said his government was contemplating assistance to budding filmmakers of the state and frame policy guidelines soon in this regard.

"Though Arunachal is a newcomer in the field of film making, with the establishment of the Film and Television Institute (third in the country) at Jote near here, the youth of the state can compete with the outside world and the festival is a part of the institute project to expose the talents of the state," Tuki said.

He said the picturesque Jote would be an educational hub for the state with the NIT and the FTI.

"Through such events, the frustrated youth of the state can be engaged in film making, which will curb unemployment up to some extent. These are areas where we can generate more employment avenues," he said while exhorting all stakeholders to inculcate the "Team Arunachal" spirit to make the event a grand success.

IPR Parliamentary Secretary Bamang Felix said the aim of the festival was to showcase the state's rich tribal culture, tradition and hospitality.

Referring to the FTI, Felix said many chief ministers of the region were apprehensive and opposed to the setting up of the Institute in the state by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley his budget speech this year.

"It is a challenge for us to host the festival despite limited resources and I am sure we will be able to prove that we are not inferior to other states," Felix said.