The second North East India Film Festival (NEIFF) 2025 concluded at the Library & Information Centre in Kakching, Manipur, celebrating the region's cinematic and cultural heritage with an award ceremony and cultural performances.
Organised by THOUNA, Manipur in association with the Film Forum Manipur and the Directorate of Information & Public Relations, Government of Manipur, and sponsored by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, along with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the five-day festival showcased 28 films, including eight feature films and two non-feature films in competition.
The Best Non-Feature Film award was conferred upon 'Where Is My Home', jointly directed by the late Bhaskar Jyoti Das and Samiran Deka, and produced by Samiran Deka under the banner of Ssdeka Media Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
The documentary highlights the plight of the displaced Bru (Reang) community, who have endured life in relief camps in Tripura since being uprooted from Mizoram following ethnic conflicts in 1997.
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Apart from 'Where Is My Home', Deka's other film, 'Teens of 42', was also screened during the festival.
Both films have garnered praise for their storytelling and narratives across various film festivals, reinforcing Deka and Ssdeka Media Entertainment's influence in shaping Northeast India's evolving cinematic landscape.
The Best Feature Film award was presented to the Manipuri film 'Oitharei', produced by Gibanlata Thokchom and directed by Dinesh Naorem.
Dhiraj Kashyap won the Best Director award for the Assamese film 'Amateurs', while Binoranjan Oinam received the Best Screenplay award for 'Langdai Ama' (Manipuri).
Other notable winners included Joy Mekola, who secured the Best Cinematography award for 'Oitharei', Tarun Wang who received the Best Editing award for 'Laangoi', and Debojit Gayan who was recognised with the Best Sound Design award for 'Baghjan'.
The Special Jury Award was conferred upon actor Narmada for her performance in 'Sunita', which also received the Jury's Special Mention. In the Non-Feature Film category, 'The Legacy of 4 Generations' was awarded the Special Mention.
The winners were presented with trophies, cash prizes, and citations during the concluding ceremony.
The festival served as a platform to bring together eminent academics, artistes, filmmakers, and cultural icons, fostering cinema's role as a medium for social change, education, and cultural preservation while amplifying the diverse narratives emerging from Northeast India.
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