Television and Cine Foundation (TCF) Manipur stepped into its 17th year on 21st July and celebrated its 16^thFoundation Day at the picturesque Shilheipung, an eco-tourism park on the outskirts of Imphal East, Manipur. The simple function, held during the day, was marked by testimonies by members – old and new – lunch and musical performances by members, belting out old classics, new wave folk songs, and alternate Manipuri modern music. Incidentally, it was the first physical gathering after nearly five years of gap.

“It has been a phenomenal journey,” echoed Sunzu Bachaspatimayum (BM), the Secretary of Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), the nodal film office of Manipur. Former president of the Foundation, Sunzu BM was instrumental in molding TCF into what it has become today – a variant creative community committed to the art and craft of storytelling through films and guided by the principle of participatory learning and creating an empowering ecosystem for independent and emerging voices to grow.

Earlier known as TVPAM, it came into being in 2006 under the president-ship of eminent filmmaker, Oken Amakcham. It mostly operated as an informal support group for empanelled Manipuri private producers of Doordarshan to address and voice their collective concerns while producing commission programs for Doordarshan. Subsequently in 2012, Sunzu Bachaspatimayum took over the charge as its president and convinced the community to expand its area of operation and become more inclusive. As the first step, the name of the group was changed to Television & Cine Foundation and formally got it registered under the Societies Registration Act of India in 2013. This became a game-changer as it saw its membership swelled with independent and aspiring filmmakers joining its ranks and the Foundation itself engaging both reality and fiction story formats.  

Today, TCF’s core activities include regular screenings of critically acclaimed films and post-screening discussions; interactions with eminent and visiting film practitioners and storytellers, incubation labs, pitching forums, screenings of reality films to culture an audience for reality storytelling, felicitations of achievers in the fields and contributory financial aids for the sick and ailing members.

Recounting the 16 year’s journey of the TC Foundation, Sunzu BM asserted that it is the time to introspect and resolve future agendas. He also asserted that TCF needs to culture the audience for reality films so that reality filmmaking becomes sustainable as much as fiction films. He added that TCF’s focus should equally be on both the reality and fiction format while promoting good cinema in Manipur.

Speaking to KRC Times, Borun Thokchom, national award winning filmmaker and TCF Secretary revealed how the Foundation helped him in his filmmaking career.

“Immediately after passing out of Mass Communication from St. Anthonys’ Shillong, Meghalaya, I wanted to dive into filmmaking. However, I thought it would be wise to get some field experience before I do that. So I met a few critically acclaimed filmmakers, like Makhonmani Mongsaba, Sunzu BM, Haobam Paban Kumar, and others, and through their association, I became a member of TCF and got involved in its activities that immensely enriched me.  Eventually, I made my first documentary on Irom Sharmila titled, ‘The Silent Poet’. This 17-minute long film went on to win the Best Debut film of Director in the documentary category at the national film Awards in 2011,” said Borun Thokchom. He added that it is through the ecosystem created by TCF that he could kick-start his career on a high note.

Revealing the road map ahead, TCF Secretary said the Foundation would lobby hard to revive the commissioned program category of Doordarshan as it is one of the most important revenue sources for documentary filmmakers, especially in the northeast.

TCF Secretary also appreciated the incumbent Secretary of MSFDS for opening a new chapter in documentary financing in the State by roping its corporate funding. Recently, Rs. 8 lakhs were raised by MSFDS for awarding seed grants for outstanding documentary projects pitched at the ‘Documentor Imphal’, a 5-day project development & incubation lab, organized jointly by MSFDS and Documentary Resource Initiative, (DRI), Kolkata at MSFDS.  For the first time in Manipur, three successful entrepreneurs attended the pitching session at the end of the lab and gave away grants worth Rs. 8 lakhs.

Thangjamang Kipgen, a filmmaker from Kangpokpi while speaking at the Foundation Day function said that TCF should become more inclusive and device means to embrace hill based filmmakers under its fold. As of now, TCF has only a handful hill based filmmakers – two from Senapati district, 2 from Tamenglong district, and one each from Kangpokpi and Ukhrul districts. He also made a call to promote and preserve indigenous folk music and songs, terming them as the reservoirs of our heritage.

TFC Joint Secretary, Sonia Nepram who shot into fame with her radical documentary, exploring the concept and context of loin wear of the Meitei women, called ‘Bloody Phanek’ stated that TCF is like a beacon of exploring the languages of cinema in the state. She asserted that cinema is the consciousness of society. “TC Foundation is the platform where people are getting the opportunity to express themselves in a language of their own that is going beyond Bollywood,” said the lady filmmaker. She claims that TCF members are exposed to international forums and are on the road to the global markets for Manipuri cinema. 

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