Resonating Stories: 4th Patkai Campus Film Festival goes Beyond Lights, Camera & Action

Morung Express News
Patkai | October 29

The collaborative nature of filmmaking and the importance of a story in driving a film forward were underscored as the 4th edition of the 3-day Campus Film Festival premiered today at the Bundrock Chapel Auditorium, Patkai Christian College (PCC) Autonomous.

In celebration of the college’s 50th anniversary, the festival organised by the Department of Mass Communication is marked as the Golden Jubilee edition  4.0, and held under the theme “Beyond Lights, Camera, Action: Resonating Stories.

Speaking at the inaugural event, Guest of Honour and President of the Film Association of Nagaland (FAN), Yapangnaro Longkumer, noted that today’s students possess greater skills and access to diverse platforms and storytelling methods. 

She highlighted the importance of story in filmmaking, stating that while lights, camera, and action are essential, the crux of any film is its story.

“It is the story that propels you to make a film. It is the story that takes you forward,” she remarked.

Engaging the audience in a mental exercise, she noted that while a setting or frame may be similar, varying interpretations bring diverse stories to life.

Longkumer also described how a concept transforms from narration to a written script and ultimately into a film, emphasising the hard work involved in filmmaking.

She shared an anecdote about Laapataa Ladies, recently chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars for Best International Feature, to underscore the collaborative aspects of filmmaking.

The film’s original writer, Biplab Goswami, who was a colleague of hers, conceptualised the story in 2018. His script won second place in a national screenwriting competition, where actor and producer Aamir Khan, a jury member, showed interest in adapting it and wanted his then-wife, Kiran Rao, to direct.

However, Goswami initially intended to direct the project himself and sought producers independently, yet faced challenges as a new director in securing funding.

Ultimately, he returned to collaborate with Khan, who came on board as a producer. Though he eventually had to entrust the direction to another, this collaboration has brought him significant recognition, as he now moves towards the Oscars and receives multiple writing offers, Longkumer noted.

Thus, she stressed the collaborative nature of filmmaking, explaining that while someone may write a story, it often requires another director who may be more suited to bring it to life. 

Market forces, especially funding, frequently influence these decisions. “This is what happens in filmmaking,” she said. “It’s a collaborative effort.”

To this end, Longkumer expressed her delight in seeing students and faculty working together over the years to successfully organise the festival, and she wished the current edition every success.

Giving a curtain-raiser, Wan-o Nangmung Yanlem, who along with Yomge Jilen are the festival directors, shared that since its inception in 2018, the festival has become an annual college event. 

She noted that the festival serves as a platform “where small and even big filmmakers showcase their talents, where stories transcend boundaries, and where the magic of films brings us closer.”

Each film screened, Yanlem noted, reflects a unique perspective, with this year’s selection resonating with the theme “Lights, Camera, Action: Resonating Stories.” 

She invited everyone to immerse themselves in the art of filmmaking and be inspired by the work of directors, writers, actors, and technical teams who have poured their heart and soul into each frame.

Earlier, Patkai Principal Dr Thepfüvilie Pierü commended the Department of Mass Communication for organising the festival through teamwork for the fourth time. 

Quoting John C Maxwell, he highlighted teamwork principles like the Law of Significance, the Law of the Big Picture, the Law of the Catalyst, and the Law of Bad Apple. 

Meanwhile, PCC Dean of Social Sciences, Neilevono Vupru, announced the winners of the short film contest organised to mark Patkai’s Golden Jubilee, followed by a screening of the winning film. 

The entries included submissions from across India.

The short film contest winner was Who, directed by Verte Nuh, with Aditya Modal’s Redacted receiving the first consolation prize.

Two second consolation prizes were awarded to Kasadaru, directed by Ravichandran, and The Weight of Silence, directed by The Tetso Drama Club.

In addition to a diverse line-up of local, national, and international films, the festival includes a special screening for children on October 29.

Apex Motors, Hunky Dory, NICSE, and The King Chilli are the festival’s main sponsors, while The Morung Express and We the Nagas serve as print and digital partners, respectively.