Guwahati, May 1: Cinematic voices from the Northeast offered both a critique of the challenges and a vision for the road ahead for the region’s under-recognized cinematic landscape during a compelling panel at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
Titled “Challenges and Prospects of Cinema in Northeast India,” the session brought together some of the most influential figures in the region’s film industry—Jahnu Barua, Jatin Bora, Ravi Sarma, Aimee Baruah, Haobam Paban Kumar, and Dominic Sangma. Together, they reflected on the promise and pressure that define filmmaking in one of India’s most culturally rich but structurally marginalized regions.
The panelists addressed systemic issues like inadequate production infrastructure, language barriers, and limited market access. Yet, their message was one of creative resilience and hope.
Veteran filmmaker Jahnu Barua described the Northeast as “a reservoir of talent” filled with remarkable work and untold stories. “The region’s socio-cultural fabric is unique, and the future of Northeast cinema is bright, especially with emerging young talents,” he said.
Actor Jatin Bora emphasized the need for digital outreach. “Assam needs its own OTT platforms to market its films,” he said, calling for robust government support and long-term policies to help regional cinema break out of its geographic limitations.
Ravi Sarma added that the absence of financial and marketing infrastructure continues to hinder growth. “We have millions of stories that are beautiful and unique. What we need is the support to tell them at scale.”
For Aimee Baruah, cinema plays a crucial role in protecting Northeast India’s linguistic heritage. “Our languages carry centuries of oral history. Film is a powerful medium to safeguard them.”
Filmmakers Haobam Paban Kumar and Dominic Sangma spoke about the reality of grassroots filmmaking in the region, where passion often outpaces institutional support. Despite the lack of funding and infrastructure, storytellers from the region persist, driven by the urgency to narrate their lived experiences.
The session ended on a hopeful note, with the panelists calling for policy reforms, regional collaboration, and greater use of OTT platforms to democratize access. Their collective appeal to government bodies, investors, and studios was clear: recognize, invest in, and elevate the cinematic voices of the Northeast.
Also Read: Fermented, fired & flavourful: Shillong’s latest food fest blends flavour, culture & live food labs
Also Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
