Shillong, Dec 18: Chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday launched the Guidelines of Film Grant Booklet, to encourage film production and to promote the use of local language a corpus fund has been created by the state government to provide financial assistance to filmmakers.
He was addressing the Hello Meghalaya Conclave organised by the Tourism department to celebrate the five-month-long journey of Hello Meghalaya, a state government-owned OTT platform.
The corpus fund is based on 4 categories – A, B, C and D. Under Category A, nominated filmmakers will receive up to ₹35 lakh to produce one feature film within a calendar year. Category B offers up to ₹25 lakh for feature films, while Category C provides up to ₹20 lakh for web series, disbursed per episode, with a minimum of 10 episodes, each 30-40 minutes long. Category D supports emerging filmmakers from Meghalaya with up to ₹5 lakh to create short films.
Following the launch of the booklet, sanction letters amounting to ₹35 lakh each were distributed to three prominent filmmakers of the state – Dominic Sangma, Pradip Kurbah, and Simi Khongtiang on a nomination basis.
The chief minister said the Guidelines of Film Grant Booklet is a testament to commitment to supporting filmmakers in their endeavours providing a necessary framework for financial assistance, and ensuring that creative minds have the resources they need to bring their visions to life.
Appreciating Hello Meghalaya, he said, “In the past six months or so, we have been able to push this to the next level. I should say we are very happy with the kind of response we’re getting.”
He spoke about the brimming talent in Meghalaya and the government’s commitment to nurture the growth.
The financial assistance of ₹35 lakh each to the three selected filmmakers and the Corpus fund will encourage the production of original content, including films, web series, and short films that promote the state’s cultural heritage, natural beauty, and local languages, he added.
Meanwhile, Hello Meghalaya, ,aunched on 11 July 2024, has seen an overwhelming response with over 3.14 lakhs total app downloads and 2 lakh registrations in just a span of 5 months, 281K total number of views, 7.33K total content downloads, and 5.05K total content shared.
The top-performing content includes Ka Daw, Thong Iong Nga, Ehrang, Ka Chithi, and Papa, with Thadlaskein, Laskein, and Mawlai being among the top regions for views, stated a press release.
Hello Meghalaya also boasts a strong social media presence, with 9,000 YouTube subscribers, 5,000 Instagram followers, and over 4,000 Facebook followers, all achieved within six months.
Expressing his pride in success of Hello Meghalaya as an OTT platform launched by a state government, Dr Vijay Kumar D, IAS shared an experience from his visit to Nongnah in South West Khasi Hills. He said during his interaction with locals, some youth showcased Hello Meghalaya app, highlighting its impressive reach even in remote areas.
The conclave also featured an award ceremony honouring storytellers across categories like films, web series, and documentaries, highlighting the importance of diverse narratives.
Winners in each category received a cash prize of ₹25,000. Additionally, five beneficiaries from the state were recognized with ₹10,000 each as a token of appreciation for their contributions to the app’s success.
Speaking about handholding the film makers, tourism minister Paul Lyngdoh said in 2025 the government looks forward to seeing Shillong’ State Central Library to be able to have a multiplex to screen movies.
He lauded the movie “Rapture” stating it as “a masterpiece that not only placed Meghalaya on the global cinematic map but also demonstrated the immense talent and potential of our filmmakers.”
Earlier, the conclave featured the screening of Dominic Sangma’s latest and critically acclaimed award winning ‘Rapture’ (Rimdogittanga). Panel discussions were also held which laid emphasis on the potential of Indigenous Story-Telling in Meghalaya.
Another important panel discussion was carried out in the conclave emphasising on The Role of Cinema in Bridging Cultural and Regional Divides where Kunal Sharma, who is currently writing a film that’s set in north-eastern part of India.
The conclave concluded with an interactive session between the chief minister and the filmmakers where they discussed the future of filmmaking in Meghalaya, shared insights on the challenges and opportunities within the industry, and explored ways to further support and promote local talent.
