Meena Longjam’s ‘Andro Dreams’ earns a spot at the 5th Korean International Ethnographic Film Festival
Eminent Manipuri filmmaker Meena Longjam’s critically acclaimed film ‘Andro Dreams’ is making waves on the international stage, earning a prestigious spot at the 5th Korean International Ethnographic Film Festival in Seoul.
The two-day festival, slated for next Friday at Cinematheque Seoul Art Cinema, will welcome the film amongst 11 carefully curated selections out of a whopping 618 submissions.
The entry of Andro Dreams in the 5th Korean International Ethnographic Film Festival organized by the Korean Society for Visual Anthropology marks a moment of pride for Manipuri cinema.
The film’s selection at the Seoul festival is not just a personal triumph for Longjam and her team, but a landmark moment for Manipuri cinema. It opens doors for broader recognition and engagement with the region’s diverse stories and cinematic talents.
The film has also been honored with the “Best Documentary” award at the 8th Jagran Film Festival in Mumbai earlier in October. Besides this, the film, ‘Andro Dreams’ served as the opening film for the non-feature section of the Indian Panorama at the 54th edition of the International Film Festival of India held in Goa last month.
For Longjam, this selection at the Seoul festival is a dream come true. “I’m so happy that my film is selected for the festival. The most exciting part is that the festival organisers have not only translated it into Korean language, but also given Korean sub-title. Now people of the East Asian country will get the real taste of ‘Andro Dream’,” she expresses.
‘Andro Dreams’ narrates the inspiring journey of a women’s football club in Imphal, Manipur. The film delves into the lives of these determined athletes, capturing their struggles, triumphs, and the unwavering spirit that fuels their passion for the sport.
The film highlights the struggles of two brave characters. Laibi, in her sixties, manages the Andro Mahila Mandal Association Football Club (AMMA-FC), an all-girls football club. She is a symbol of resilience. The story also follows Nirmala, the club’s most promising young football player.
“When people, mostly youngsters from Manipur, are keen on Korean movies; now Koreans love the cinema from a tiny state nestling in the northeastern corner of India. This is also quite interesting,” said Meena, a doctorate degree holder in Mass Communication.
