Movies
Northeast Film Festival in Delhi to become annual feature: Rajyavardhan Rathore
NEW DELHI: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said the Government intended to make the North East Film Festival a ‘People’s Movement,’ which would become better with each passing year.
The Government remained committed to promoting and facilitating popular cinema of the North East so that long lasting brand equity to the films of the region could be established through such events and film festivals. Such events also acted as a catalyst to strengthen the talent across platforms from the region.
He was speaking at a three day festival “Fragrances of the North-eastern films” organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals. The festival provides a platform to cine lovers to view films from the North East. The festival is being held at the Siri Fort Auditorium Complex from 21 to 23 August and will close with Aisa Yeh Jahaan.
The Minister said films from the North East always attracted attention at International Film Festivals and in academic circles for their canvas of human emotions and reflections of society. The increase in representation of cinema at such events was definitely a healthy sign of growing culture of cinema in the region. It also reiterated the willingness of creative artists to venture in the medium of cinema.
He added that creative talent from the region had been regularly winning national and international awards, and travelling to prestigious international festivals over the decades.
The Minister specifically mentioned that the Ministry had undertaken special measures to promote the flow of quality information in the region through the Prasar Bharati network.
The current FM Phase III auction had earmarked 15 channels for bidding, which would enable the growth of radio in the region in the private FM domain.
The Minister highlighted the measures being taken to promote quality education in the field of journalism through the Indian Institute of Mass Communication currently at Aizawal. He also mentioned that efforts were being made to fast track the process of establishing the Film making institute at Arunachal Pradesh. This initiative was part of the overall vision to promote and strengthen youth talent from the North-Eastern Region.
Minister for State for Youth Affairs & Sports Sarbananda Sonowal said such festivals showcased the youth talent of the region and reiterated the cinematic legacy of the region. I&B Secretary Bimal Julka said the initiative was part of the vision to promote cinema as medium of creative expression especially from the North East Region.
The inaugural ceremony was followed by the premiere screening of Manipuri feature film Pallepfam directed and produced by Wanglen Khundongban in his debut.
The screening was preceded by three cultural shows that had the Hojagiri Dance troupe from Tripura, Dhol Pung Cholam Dance troupe from Manipur and The Girish and Chronicles, a Hard Rock Band from Sikkim.
In order to provide a complete flavour of the region to the visitors, film screenings will be supplemented by cultural programmes, exhibitions of handicrafts and books, food stalls and much more during the festival.
The festival also includes a retrospective of maestro Aribam Syam Sharma from Manipur. Six films including two feature films Ishanou and Imagi Ningthem and four non feature films titled Orchids of Manipur, The Deer on The Lake, Indigenous Games of Manipur and Yelhou Jagoi will be screened in the retrospective.
Apart from the retrospective the film Ko:Yad by Assamese filmmaker Manju Borah will be showcased. While Tribeny Rai’s filmsYathawat and Last Rites from Sikkim will be presented, Maithya directed by Joseph Pulinthanath and Crossing Bridges by Sanga Dorjee Thongdok will give a glimpse of Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.
A bouquet of short films from Meghalaya Karyukai and Rong Kuchak directed by Domnic Sangma and from Nagaland a documentary titledThe Honey Hunter And The Maker’directed by Tiainla Jamir and Story of a House directed by Sesino Yhoshu and Sophy Lasuh will also be presented.
Hollywood
Iger’s final act: Disney boss wraps up epic saga with a new captain at the helm
After 15 turbulent years, two stints in the c-suite, and billions spent on blockbuster acquisitions, Bob Iger is stepping away from the Magic Kingdom.
CALIFORNIA: The 75-year-old chief, hailed as one of the most transformative leaders in modern media, officially hands over to former parks chief Josh D’Amaro on 18 March. And this time, he’s getting the succession right.
Iger’s legacy glitters with big bets and epic wins: the $7.4bn Pixar buy, $4bn Marvel swoop, and the colossal $71bn 21st Century Fox deal. He dragged Disney into the streaming age, fought off activist investor Nelson Peltz, and saw off a political scrap with Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
But it hasn’t all been pixie dust. The forced return of Iger in 2022—after the short, shaky reign of successor Bob Chapek—tarnished an otherwise stellar run.
Now, D’Amaro takes the wheel with a streamlined leadership team and Disney firing on all cylinders. The firm’s streaming business is in the black, theme-park attendance is soaring, and five global films have hit $1billion at the box office in the past two years. Not bad for a firm that was on the ropes just months ago.
D’Amaro’s first move? A slick reorg under new president and chief creative officer Dana Walden, folding film, tv, streaming and gaming into one punchy unit. Sean Shoptaw, heading up the gaming division, now reports directly to Walden—bringing Fortnite and Epic Games collaborations closer to Disney’s creative heart.
Iger isn’t sailing off into the sunset just yet. He’ll keep busy with Angel City FC, the women’s football club he owns with his wife. And as Ann Mooney Murphy of Stevens Institute predicts: “A guy like that never truly retires.”
One era ends. Another begins. And the House of Mouse bets big on a future beyond the king.
