North East India Film Festival Begins in Manipur

The 3rd North East India Film Festival (NEIFF) 2026 has begun in Imphal, the capital of Manipur, bringing together filmmakers and cinema lovers from across the Northeastern region. The two-day festival is being held at TanthaPolis Cinema in Lamphel and aims to promote regional cinema and culture.

According to organizers, the festival features nine films from different northeastern states, including four films from Manipur, four from Assam, and one from Meghalaya. These films include both feature and non-feature productions that highlight the culture, traditions, and social realities of the region.

The festival was inaugurated by Professor Paonam Gunindro, Vice-Chancellor of the Manipur University of Culture, who emphasized that cinema is an important medium for preserving culture and telling regional stories to a wider audience.

Several films were screened on the opening day, including The Check Post, Ha Lyngkha Bneng, Romantic Affairs, and Laininghan Naoria Phullo. The event is jointly organized by THOUNA, the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Manipur government, and the All Manipur Film Producers Association, with support from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The festival will also present eight awards in categories such as Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Screenplay, recognizing excellence in northeastern cinema.

Organizers said the event aims to provide a platform for filmmakers from the Northeast to showcase their work and strengthen the region’s growing film industry.