Manipur film festival awards presented

IMPHAL, April 30: The awards for the 3rd and 4th Manipur State Film Festival, MSFF 1999 were distributed today during a presentation function graced by Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam as the chief guest. Altogether 40 awards for the festival held months back were presented. Arts and Culture Minister M Manihar Singh and Public Health engineering Department Minister O Joy attended as the president and guest of honour respectively. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister lauded the efforts of the state filmmakers and said that they have carved a niche in the international film map due to their hard work. He also assured that his government will do its best level to develop the film industry in the state by upgrading the Manipur Film Development Corporation. The Chief Minister presented the best feature film award for the 3rd edition of the festival to producers Chand Heisnam and M Pramodini Devi for the Kanaga Hinghouni. The best award for direction went to Kombirei director Gurumayum Narayan Sharma. The best actor and best actress went to RK Amarjit and Huirem Seema Devi for Eraal Oirage and Kanaga Hinghouni respectively. Chandam Shyamacharan got the special jury award for the film Khamba Khamnu. Thouyangba Thoungamba bagged the best non-feature film award for Laa. Altogether eight films participated in the third edition of the MSFF, 1999. S Pramodini Devi collected the best feature film award for Aroiba Bidai for the 4th MSFF, 1999. L Surjakanta Sharma got the best direction award for the same film. K Diya scooped up the best actor award in Eigee Punshi while T Romita got it in the female category for Zehera. Lourembam Pishak Devi got the special jury award in Aroiba Natte and Amambasu Anganbani. The festival featured seven feature films. All the awards were accompanied by a certificate and one bronze statue of a Maibi designed by Sharma Arts and Craft House. The Chief Minister also released souvenirs for the two festivals. After the awards presentation, Aroiba Bidai which won the best feature film award in the 4th film festival was screened.