Shillong, May 3 : In a landmark initiative aimed at nurturing indigenous talent and propelling the state’s burgeoning film industry, Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, today disbursed significant grants to local filmmakers under the “Hello Meghalaya” program. The transformative event, held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong, marked a historic moment for Meghalaya’s vibrant artistic community, bringing together filmmakers, content creators, and cultural dignitaries.
The ceremony was graced by Chief Minister Sangma as the Chief Guest, alongside Tourism Minister Bah Paul Lyngdoh as the Guest of Honour. Also in attendance were Dr. Vijay Kumar D., IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Tourism department; Cyril V D Diengdoh, IAS, Director, Tourism Department; Harish Choudhary, IFS, Principal Conservator, Forest department; Shri Robert Lyngdoh, Chief Administrative Officer, The Meghalayan Age Limited (MAL), and members of MAL, as well as numerous directors, filmmakers, and content creators.
Chief Minister Sangma emphasized the state government’s commitment to its youthful population, noting that nearly 50% of Meghalaya’s residents are under the age of 20, making it one of the youngest states in the country. “Realizing the strength that we have, we felt the need as policymakers to really focus on what drives the youth of our State and how we can provide an ecosystem and platform for the youth to grow, to do what they love to do and create value out of it,” he stated, highlighting the immense potential he sees in Meghalaya’s youth. He further stressed the significant potential of the state’s film industry and the crucial role platforms like “Hello Meghalaya” play in providing the right opportunities.
The “Hello Meghalaya” grant program is structured into four categories to support a diverse range of cinematic projects:
- Category A: Six nominated filmmakers will receive up to Rs 35 lakhs each to produce one feature film within a calendar year.
- Category B: Eighteen filmmakers were awarded up to Rs 25 lakhs for feature films.
- Category C: Four filmmakers received Rs 20 lakhs for web series, disbursed per episode, with a minimum of 10 episodes, each 30-40 minutes long.
- Category D: Nineteen emerging filmmakers from Meghalaya were granted up to Rs 5 lakhs to create short films.
Tourism Minister, Paul Lyngdoh, expressed his delight at the event, noting its role in advancing the film fraternity and celebrating Meghalaya’s rich indigenous traditions. He commended the success of the “Hello Meghalaya” platform since its inception and welcomed constructive suggestions for the Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy.
A highlight of the event was the highly anticipated first look of “Ha Lyngkha Bneng (The Elysian Field),” directed by Mr. Pradip Kurbah and his team.
Further bolstering regional collaboration in the creative arts, the Filmmaking Exchange Programme was announced. This pioneering initiative will see Meghalaya Tourism collaborate with the Film and Television Institute (FTI), Arunachal Pradesh, to conduct masterclass sessions led by award-winning director Mr. Dominic Sangma. The exchange program, supported by the Tourism Department, Government of Meghalaya, will involve 30 students – 15 from Meghalaya and 15 from Arunachal Pradesh.
The event concluded with a spectacular road show and flag-off ceremony led by Chief Minister Sangma. The road show is set to feature movies, content, promotional activities, and awareness campaigns on various topics and issues, which will be displayed in different locations across the state for 30 days, further engaging communities and promoting local cinema.
