Imphal: Manipur will host the second edition of the National Tribal Film Festival, Tribal Frames Manipur 2026, at the Palace Auditorium of the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) in Imphal from November 12 to 15.
The four-day festival aims to provide a national platform for tribal filmmakers and storytellers to showcase indigenous narratives, languages, cultures and contemporary realities through cinema.
Director of Tribal Affairs and Hills R Rang Peter announced the event at a press conference on Monday. The festival is being organised in collaboration with MSFDS, with support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
More than 28 feature films, documentaries and short films from Northeast India, Ladakh, Jharkhand and other tribal regions will be screened.
The programme will also include filmmaker interactions, masterclasses, panel discussions, cultural performances and the Tribal Lens Photography Exhibition.
A key initiative, TFM 20 Emerging Voices, will offer a three-day filmmaking workshop from November 10 to 12 for 20 young participants from Manipur’s six hill districts. The festival will also feature a special focus on Mizoram cinema and a collaboration with Green Hub.
Tribal Lens 2026, a photography exhibition running from November 12 to 18, will showcase the cultures, traditions, livelihoods and everyday lives of tribal communities.
Peter said the initiatives aim to go beyond organising festivals by creating sustainable platforms for cultural preservation, youth empowerment, creative expression and livelihood opportunities for tribal filmmakers.
Separately, the Department of Tribal Affairs and Hills will organise the State-level Tribal Cultural Festival 2026 and Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas celebrations at the City Convention Centre in Imphal from November 15 to 18.
The event will showcase traditional dances, music, indigenous cuisines, handlooms, handicrafts and tribal games, providing a platform for artists, artisans and cultural groups from across the state.
According to Peter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the gathering through video conference from Maharashtra.
The celebrations will begin on November 15 with Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, commemorating the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The occasion will also mark the culmination of Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada and the formal opening of the cultural festival.
The department has invited the public, cultural organisations, students, artists, filmmakers and other stakeholders to participate in the celebrations.
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