Govt to set up committee for selection of persons to attend international, national film festivals

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 9, 2023

The state government has decided to set up a selection committee headed by chief secretary for selection of persons to attend international or national film festivals based on merit.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Minister in-charge Information and Public Relations Ampareen Lyngdoh with all stakeholder departments of Arts and Culture, Information and Public Relations and Tourism here on Tuesday.

The minister has taken stock of the situation surrounding nomination of Commander Shangpliang and Nicholas Lemtor Kharkongor to attend the Cannes Film Festival.

“It was suggested after going through the nominations of Pradip Kurbah and Dominic Sangma that Dominic Sangma may be selected and his name be recommended to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to attend the Cannes Film Festival as there are reports that Nicholas Lemtor Kharkongor may have withdrawn his participation from the event,” Commissioner & Secretary in-charge IPR Pravin Bakshi said in a statement.

He also informed, “It was also decided in the meeting that for future such opportunities and International or National Film Festivals or events there would be a Selection Committee chaired by Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya that would select the persons who would attend by merit with discussion and participation of all three stakeholder Departments as members of the Committee and by their mutual consent and decision.”

The statement said it was also reiterated that while Departments of the State Government wrote separately for the film festival nominating film personalities of the State – the choice was eventually made by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry , Government of India and they are free to do so as a Ministry.

“However, the IPR Department is taking up the matter for substitution with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry,  Government of India subject to their guidelines and processes,” it added.