Fifth Jharkhand National Film Festival in Jamshedpur to showcase regional cinema and culture

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Dec 14: The fifth edition of the Jharkhand National Film Festival (JNFF) will be held from 15 to 21 December 2024, continuing its tradition of celebrating the rich cultural diversity of the state. The event, which has been successfully organized every year since 2018, is a collaborative effort between Aasma India Charitable, an NGO dedicated to art and culture, and Mitra Production, a registered organization focused on films.

The festival provides a crucial platform for local filmmakers, especially those working in Jharkhand’s regional languages like Nagpuri, Santhali, Chhau Khorta, and Mundari. It is not only a celebration of cinema but also an opportunity for employment generation in the state’s art and culture sectors.

The film screenings will take place in multiple locations. From 15 to 20 December, films will be shown in Jamshedpur, followed by screenings at Srinath University from 16 to 18 December. The event will then move to Michael John Auditorium for screenings on 19 and 20 December. The closing ceremony, featuring an award night, will be held on 21 December. Renowned Bollywood playback singer Sapna Awasthi will grace the event, along with Mukesh Yash Bhatt, director Anil Ramchandra Sharma, and other notable Jharkhand artists from the state’s vibrant Jollywood industry. The artists will perform in various Jharkhand languages, showcasing the region’s diverse culture, tourist attractions, and rich traditions.

Sanjay Uday Satpathy and Raju Mitra, organizers of the festival, emphasized the importance of the event for local filmmakers: “This festival is an important step in promoting the regional film industry and giving a platform to filmmakers in Jharkhand. It’s an opportunity to showcase the state’s culture through cinema and take it to a national audience.”

The event this year will also receive support from international partners, including countries like the United States, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, and Japan. This international backing highlights the growing global recognition of the Jharkhand National Film Festival.

Chief patrons of the program include Bharat Singh, Sukhdev Mahato, Poorvi Ghosh, and Arun Bakrewal, with advisory support from Gagan Rastogi and Deepika Banerjee.

Creative Head and MassCom teacher at Jamshedpur Women’s University, Shalini Prasad, expressed excitement about the event: “This year’s festival will bring together renowned film directors and experts from the region, such as Anil Ramchandra Sharma, Alik Roy, Dhananjay Mandal, Mansingh Majhi, and Rajiv Sinha, who will form the jury. Their expertise will bring a higher standard to the event.”

With the growing participation and support from various sectors, the Jharkhand National Film Festival 2024 promises to be a grand success, fostering greater recognition for the state’s artistic talent on the national and international stage.