Skip to content Skip to navigation

Film on Loktak lake wins award

Manipur filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar’s ‘Phum shang’ (Floating Life) has been adjudged as ‘Best Long Documentary Award’ during the eighth edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala which concluded recently. 

The festival, organized by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy for the Department of Cultural Affairs of Kerala government is regarded as one of the most serious festivals for documentaries in India. 

Irom Maipak, the cinematographer of the film was selected for the ‘Navroz Contractor Award for the Best Cinematographer’ in the festival. The documentary narrates the tale of the displaced fishermen at Loktak lake in Manipur.  

“This is one of the festivals in India we filmmakers look up to where some of the best films compete. Receiving an honour here itself is a dream come true. What can I ask more when people can connect with me and the subject through my film,” Paban Kumar told AT.

Altogether 210 films selected from 35 countries were screened under 15 categories in this festival. In competition section, 74 films including vied for awards in different categories.

Citation of the Jury on the film says, “A poignant, sensitive, empathetic film on the fight for survival and the rights of fishermen. In its treatment, the film has reached an epic quality in portraying the vulnerabilities and strength of our lives”. The award carried a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a certificate. 

‘Phum shang’ earlier bagged the Best Investigative Award in the 62nd National Film Awards 2014. 

Paban Kumar, an alumnus of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata, has made number of films that brought accolades from across the globe. His films Kangla, AFSPA 1958 and ‘A Cry in the Dark’ have been shown at various festivals across the globe.

AFSPA 1958 bagged several international awards including the Fipresci Prize at MIFF, 2006. AFSPA 1958 also bagged the Best Non-Fiction Award at the 56th National Film Awards 2008. 

Add new comment

Random Stories

Powerful bomb recovered in the city

25 Dec 2008 - 12:11am | editor
The city police has saved the souls of hundreds of people in the city when police defused a powerful bomb beside the bust Machkhowa bust stand on Wednesday afternoon.The bomb was planted beside the...

‘Nervous’ Gogoi fails to link historical facts

18 Apr 2016 - 10:19pm | Daya Nath Singh
Being disturbed since the first phase of polling for Assam Assembly on April 4 last, the Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi is finding it difficult to remember the history of Assam agitation propelled...

KMSS against mega dams

2 Nov 2010 - 10:15pm | Ranjan K Baruah
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samitee led by Akhil Gogoi submitted a memorandum to Prime Minster against the construction of large dams in the north east. The memorandum also contains signature of more than...

JFA demands probe into advocate’s death

10 Jan 2012 - 8:57pm | Nava Thakuria
Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) expresses serious concern at the mysterious death of journalist turned advocate Deva Kumar Das following the simple injury by a stray leopard in Guwahati on...

Other Contents by Author

The Department of Higher (Technical) Education, of Assam government has signed three MoUs with Curtin University, Australia at Perth on Tuesday in presence of Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi. The Department is already in collaboration with Curtin University for a project on improving the quality of technical education in Assam. While this project is in progress, the Department and Curtin University have further extended the collaborative efforts by way of signing of these projects. In a major thrust for improvement of research capacity of the technical institutions of the State, an agreement has been signed for a Collaborative Programme of Research and Research Training under...
Assam government is mulling setting up a Farmers’ Development Corporation and Rs 1,000 crore will be allocated for taking up various farmers’ oriented schemes.Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said during an interactive programme with 100 farmers from different parts of the state on Friday.Gogoi said that his government has all along been giving emphasis on the agriculture sector and has taken up a slew of schemes aimed at raising the income of the farmers.“Ours is an agrarian economy and the development of the state hinges on agriculture and allied sectors. That is why our government has accorded top priority to the agriculture sector and has taken up a slew of schemes towards this end,” he added...
Assam governor PB Acharya who is also in charge of Nagaland and Tripura gave away the young talented artistes award for the year 2014-15 to 12 young talented artistes from across the north-eastern states.  It was organized by North East zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) under the union ministry of culture at Silpagram auditorium in Guwahati. In his speech the governor has said that the entire North East is the hub of many traditional art and culture. But some of these are on the verge of extinction. “So we have to encourage this rich art and culture of this region,” Acharya said. He also expressed that this type of award giving function will definitely encourage this young...
In a bid to infuse more mobility in the city bus services, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today flagged off 61 number of city buses to increase plying of the government buses in the city and its adjoining areas at a function held at Rupnath Brahma Inter-State Bus Terminus in Guwahati today. The 11 number of AC and 50 number of Non-AC buses under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission Phase-II are the special purpose vehicles and they would ply between Jalukbari-Noonmati, Jalukbari-Beltola via Paltanbazar, ISBT-Mirza and ISBT-Jagiroad routes. Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that in order to put the state into a robust growth trajectory, the transport...
The 25th Convocation of Gauhati University held at the university campus in Guwahati on Monday where Assam governor PB Acharya who is also the VC presented degrees to altogether 1050 students and scholars. Altogether 123 scholars were given PhD degrees, six M Phil and 921 students were given post graduate and under graduate degrees in an august gathering. Addressing the gathering, the PB Acharya lauded the role of Gauhati University in creating a knowledge based society. Being the premier seat of learning in the city which is a gate way to the South East Asian Nations, the Governor urged the university fraternity to be in the fore-front to interact with leading universities...
Assam government has made compulsory use of seat belt in all types of vehicles.The government has also directed to ensure fitment of seat belt in all types of passenger vehicles including buses by April 15, 2015. Further, no one can sell or handover any vehicle to any customer without pre-fitted seat belt device. Such vehicles will not be entitled for registration, transfer of ownership or fitness certificate etc if it is not fitted with seat belt device for each and every seat. 
In yet another attempt to scale the world’s highest peak – Mount Everest from northeast India, a group of 11 mountaineers would be leaving Guwahati on April 3 for the expedition. The team is being led by Manash Barooah which is organized by Asom Everest Expedition Organising Committee of Assam Mountaineering Association.Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi wished them good luck and handed over the National Tri-Colour and Organisation Flag to set off the first ever expedition to the Mount Everest from Assam. Speaking on the occasion CM Gogoi said, “The stupendous efforts of the expedition members to scale Mount Everest signifies the courage and determination of the youths of Assam...
As a unique and pioneering initiative, the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) under the Union ministry OF culture is organizing a Production Mela for 113 rural artisans from across the region with an aim to foster the art of traditional weaving and craftsmanship, and expand their market.On the sidelines, some of the best wood sculptors from the region are also creating masterpieces depicting the cultural heritage of the eight north eastern states. It has started from Saturday and will continue till March 31.The production Mela aims to engage rural artisans directly to probable buyers and even suppliers with a hope that it will provide a much needed break for some of them.The...
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi assured to enact a law to deal with witch-hunting and its manifestations. Talking to a seven member delegation of Coordination Committee against Superstitions at his official residence this evening, Gogoi assured that a law encompassing all provisions to tackle witch-craft in the state will be introduced in the present Assembly Session. He further said, ‘Considering the practice of witch-hunting and its ill effects in the society a, comprehensive law to deal with this menace has become a paramount importance’. The Coordination Committee against Superstition that met the Chief Minister is an umbrella body of 12 different organisations and led by its...
long with the rest of the country, the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) in association with Indian Network of Positive People observed Zero Discrimination Day on Sunday  at the State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Khanapara in Guwahati. This year’s theme is–Open up, reach out. Speaking on the occasion, president of Indian Network of Positive People, Jahnabi Goswami said that discrimination especially of those who are infected by HIV/AIDS is very common.Stating her own example, she said, “There was a time when a dentist himself refused to treat me when I told him that I am an HIV infected. Not only that, the concerned dentist even called up his other dentist...