The second edition of the Sikkim Global Film Festival will be held in Gangtok from December 10 to 14, providing celluloid comfort to the pandemic-fatigued cinema lovers of the state.
The nascent festival, which could not take place last year because of Covid-19, will have a potpourri of events during the five days, including |investors’ meet for producers, technical sessions with national and regional-level film experts, cultural programmes, art performances, fashion show and cultural exhibition.
Pooja Sharma, the chairperson of the Sikkim Film Production Board, said apart from screening feature films, the festival would have competitions in different categories like tribal and regional films, short films, minute-long videos on global peace and five minutes-long videos on battling the pandemic.
The last date for submission of entries in the competitive sections is November 15 and those interested can register by logging on to www.sikkimfilmboard.org.
“The rules for the competitive movies are that all films must carry English subtitles. Films not certified by CBFC can also be submitted and short films should not exceed 30 minutes,” said Sharma.
In keeping with the Sikkim government’s policy of promoting the state as the destination for film-making, Sharma said subsidies to the tune of Rs 20 lakh for local filmmakers and Rs 1 crore to national filmmakers would be provided.
“The subsidies would be given only if they fulfill the criteria, which are: 75 per cent of the shooting should be done in Sikkim and 50 per cent of cast and crew should be local people,” she added.
Inviting both national and international filmmakers to participate in the festival and also explore the possibilities the scenic Himalayan state has to offer to them, Sharma said the state government had framed a film policy last year to ease the process of film-making.
