‘Loktak Lairembee’ to compete in Asia Pacific Screen awards

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug  21

International award winning filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar yet again makes history with his debut feature film Loktak Lairembee by entering in competition section at the prestigious Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), the region’s highest accolade in film.

In collaboration with Paris based UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations, this year’s award will be held on November 23 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane, Australia.

Paban’s Loktak Lairembee has created history for Manipuri cinema by becoming the first film from Manipur to compete for this prestigious international award. Since the inception of APSA, thousands of films from the region have competed in the international event, demonstrating a rich state of diversity, telling a unique story from its country of origin.

The Asia Pacific Screen Academy has forged an international academy in alliance with the European Film Academy which presents the prestigious annual European Film Awards. The Academy encourages dialogue, collaboration and business opportunities for the region’s filmmakers.

It may be mentioned that the film Loktak Lairembee had created waves with its entry at the prestigious 67th Berlinale – Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, followed by winning the German Star of India award at the 14th Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart Germany.

The film was also awarded the Best Environment Film at the 64th National Film Awards 2017, Special Mention – Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, 26th G. Aravindan Puruskaram for the Best Debut Director 2016, FIPRESCI India Critics Award – 9th Bengaluru International Film Festival 2017, Silver Bodhisattva Award – 2nd Bodhisattva International Film Festival 2017.

It also won the prestigious Golden Gateway Award at the 18th Mumbai Film Festival last year and the NETPAC Award (Asian Select) at the 22nd Kolkata International Film Festival 2016.

It was world premiered at the Asian New Currents of the 21st Busan International Film Festival held in the Korean city during 2016, screened in the Indian Panorama section of the 47th International Film Festival of India at Goa and took part in many other reputed international and national film festivals.