Manipur to host National Tribal Film Festival, cultural celebrations to mark Birsa Munda's birth anniversary

Manipur is set to host the second edition of the National Tribal Film Festival, titled Tribal Frames Manipur 2026, from November 12 to 15, with the state government assuring that the event will ensure inclusive participation.

Addressing the media on Monday, R Rang Peter, Director of the Department of Tribal Affairs and Hills, said the four-day festival is being organised by the department through the Tribal Research Institute (TRI), in collaboration with the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) and with support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.

The festival will be held at the Palace Auditorium of the MSFDS in Imphal and will showcase more than 28 feature films, documentaries and short films from Northeast India, Ladakh, Jharkhand and other tribal regions of the country.

Peter said the festival would provide a national platform for tribal filmmakers and storytellers to present indigenous narratives, languages, cultures and contemporary realities through cinema.

The programme will include filmmaker interactions, masterclasses, panel discussions, cultural performances and the Tribal Lens Photography Exhibition.

A special initiative, TFM 20 Emerging Voices, will offer a three-day pre-festival filmmaking workshop from November 10 to 12 for 20 young participants from Manipur's six hill districts. The initiative aims to nurture young tribal storytellers and encourage them to document stories from their own communities.

The festival will also feature a special focus on Mizoram cinema, a collaboration with Green Hub, and recognition of contributions to tribal cinema and indigenous visual storytelling.

As part of the celebrations, Tribal Lens 2026, a photography initiative and exhibition, will be held from November 12 to 18, showcasing the cultures, traditions, livelihoods, landscapes and everyday lives of tribal communities.

The department will also organise the State-Level Tribal Cultural Festival 2026 from November 15 to 18 at the City Convention Centre in Imphal, with support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

The celebrations will begin on November 15 with Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. The festival aims to showcase the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Manipur's tribal communities through traditional dances and music, cultural performances, live music, indigenous cuisines, and exhibitions-cum-sale of tribal handlooms, handicrafts and other indigenous products. Traditional games will also be part of the programme.

Peter said the event would mark the culmination of Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada and commemorate the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda, while honouring the contributions, sacrifices and legacy of tribal communities and freedom fighters in the country's history.

He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the state-level cultural festival through video conference.