Nagaland Cinefest held at Kisama

Nagaland Cinefest organised by Department of Informations and Public Relations (DIPR) in association with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was held on December 6 at bamboo hall Naga heritage village Kisama. The event was graced by secretary of the North Eastern Council (NEC), Satinder Kumar Bhalla, as the chief guest.
In his address, Bhalla spoke on the transformative influence of cinema, noting that while life is often compared to drama, cinema remains a vital medium for expressing it. He said that hosting the Cinefest during the Hornbill Festival “speaks volumes” about its cultural significance and commended the Government of Nagaland for the initiative.
Bhalla highlighted cinema’s relevance for today’s youth, especially Generation Z, who actively express themselves through short videos and social media reels. He underscored the Northeast’s rich storytelling traditions and emphasized cinema’s potential as a powerful platform for cultural expression and community identity. Earlier, the event opened with a welcome address by additional secretary, IPR, Kusa Fithu, followed by screenings of The Last Catch directed by Lima Sanglir, and Feeling From The Past directed by Jepito H. Zhimo.
Day 2 Schedule:
11:00 AM – 11:20 AM: Sabotage — Directed by Saionba Laishram & Tiakumzuk Pongener
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Panel discussion — Is social media the Next Horizon? In conversation with Gouri Nair, Niyaz Mujawar & Adarsh Nair; Moderator: Arien Jamir
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Ground Zero — Produced by Nagaland Olympic Association and TakeOne
1:40 PM – 2:40 PM: Masterclass — Masterclass on Smartphone Film Making Adarsh Nair (Film Maker & Film Strategist)
Smartphone Filmmaking with filmmaker and strategist Adarsh Nair
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Bloody Heist — Directed by Itoka Achumi.