Manipuri film ‘Andro Dreams’ to be screened as opening film at 54th IFFI in Goa

The Manipuri language film ‘Andro Dreams,’ directed by noted Manipuri filmmaker Meena Longjam, will be screened as the opening film for the Non-Feature Film section at the prestigious 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) scheduled to be held in Goa from November 20 to 28, 2023.

Notably, Andro Dreams is the third Manipuri non-feature film to achieve the honour of opening the Indian Panorama Section.

The first film was Aribam Syam’s ‘Yelhou Jagoi’ (1995), followed by Bobo Khuraijam’s ‘Ima Sabitri’ (2016) after a gap of 21 years.

The film Andro Dreams depicts the progress of a women’s football club from a remote area in Imphal East district.

Besides Andro Dreams, Waribam Dorendro Singh’s documentary ‘Last Meeting’ has been selected for the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Non-Feature Film Section.

The nine-day event will screen 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films.
Speaking to the media, Longjam said, “I am extremely happy that ‘Andro Dreams’ has been selected as an opening film in the prestigious festival. I also hope that my film, showcasing how girls from a small village in Manipur can dream big, will come as a ray of hope for others.”

She said that Andro Dreams is the love story of Laibi, an old woman with a spirited soul, and her three-decade-old all-girls football club battling economic challenges, patriarchy, and orthodoxy in Andro, an ancient village in northeast India. Laibi, who hails from Andro village has battled poverty, insurgency and patriarchy to successfully run this girls’ football club for the last 22 years.

Meena and Dorendra’s achievements come just a week after two notable Manipuri filmmakers, Mayanglambam Romi Meitei and Saikhom Ratan, were honored at the 29th National Film Awards 2021 in New Delhi for their films “Eikhoigi Yum” (Our Home) and “Beyond Blast,” respectively.

Meena, who holds a master’s degree in mass communication, has received many awards in her decade-long career as a filmmaker, the most famous of which was her 2015 triumph for the documentary film “Auto driver,” which chronicled the challenges of Imphal’s first female auto-rickshaw driver.

Dorendra was overjoyed at the prospect of showcasing his work and contributing to the rich fabric of Indian cinema at the 54th IFFI.

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