New Delhi, Aug 30: National Award-winning filmmaker Dominic M Sangma has urged filmmakers from Meghalaya to make use of the OTT platform Hello Meghalaya to showcase their films.
“The government has initiated it, and Hello Meghalaya is also open in its own way. It is a very good step. Now I would request filmmakers to utilise the platform nicely,” Sangma said on the sidelines of Film Expo India at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
While appreciating the initiatives of Hello Meghalaya, Sangma placed the responsibility firmly on the filmmakers to make use of what is now available to them.
With camera and equipment manufacturers, production houses and film professionals from across the country gathered at national industry event.
The Film Expo is a unique opportunity for Meghalaya’s filmmakers to step out of their comfort zones and gain exposure to the larger film industry, he said.
“It is an opening,” Sangma said, stressing that Meghalaya’s presence at the Wxpo was about more than having a booth.
Sangma said filmmakers from the state could gain a broader perspective of the industry and build valuable connections.
Meanwhile, he appealed to filmmakers to use government grants responsibly and seize the opportunity, stressing that failing to do so would ultimately be a loss for the state’s creative community.
Sangma is himself benefiting from the initiative through his upcoming project “Veil of Dust,” which is supported by Hello Meghalaya and is currently in development.
The film has also been selected for the Asian Project Market under the Busan International Film Festival.
“I will be attending meetings in October and I hope things fall into place with producers, co-producers, or funders,” he said.
“The shooting could possibly start by the end of this year and the film could be released by the end of next year.”
Sangma also pointed to Meghalaya’s biggest strength: its young people and their growing passion for filmmaking.
“I have met a lot of aspiring filmmakers, especially in the Garo Hills, and some very good filmmakers,” he said.
With more opportunities emerging for creators within the state, Sangma believes the presence of Hello Meghalaya on a national platform can further strengthen Meghalaya’s film ecosystem, bringing together its young talent, creative ambition and diverse stories.
