Haobam Paban Kumar. Telegraph picture

Imphal, May 8: A young documentary and short-filmmaker from Manipur is among six Indian filmmakers who have been selected by the ministry of information and broadcasting for a trip to the Cannes Film Festival from May 11-21.

Haobam Paban Kumar is among six “emerging talents” from the country who will also have an opportunity to seek collaborators for their new projects at Cannes.

They will not get to screen their films at the festival, but will have an opportunity to present their work in a DVD format at the Indian Pavilion at Cannes.

The other five filmmakers who have been selected are Dibakar Banerjee, Anurag Kashyap, Anusha Rizvi, Laxmikant Shetgaonkar and Sekhar Kummula.

“I feel great. It is really a surprise for me. It’s amazing how I got selected. Cannes is the Mecca for filmmakers. There are so many young and talented filmmakers in this country. I don’t know what to say,” Paban Kumar said.

Better known as Paban, this 35-year-old alumnus of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Calcutta, is hardly a new face in the national and the international film fraternity.

His documentary film AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) 1958 won the prestigious international critics award — FIPRESCI Prize — at the 9th Mumbai International Film Festival, 2006.

This film also won the Jury Award at the 10th Ismailia International Film Festival, Egypt 2006.

His film, Mr India, based on the life and struggle of a HIV positive body-builder Kh. Pradipkumar won the silver lotus at the 57th National Film Awards 2010.

Paban Kumar is the second filmmaker from Manipur to rub shoulders with the famed directors at Cannes after Aribam Syam Sharma, whose film Ishanou (The Chosen One) was selected for the UN Certain Regard section of the Cannes in 1991.

“This is a moment of pride for Manipur and celebration time. Paban Kumar’s selection would boost the morale of filmmakers not only in Manipur but also in the Northeast. Paban Kumar is a good filmmaker and he deserves the trip. It will also encourage our filmmakers,” said Grand Prix award winner Syam Sharma.

He said, “There were many filmmakers in other countries who wants to take up collaborative projects in India. The selection is part of the initiative by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) to give an opportunity to young filmmakers for such collaborative ventures and also expose them to such prestigious festivals.”

Sharma wants the Manipur government to extend financial assistance to Paban Kumar for his trip to Cannes as an encouragement to the Manipuri filmmakers.

The six filmmakers would lure collaborators by presenting their work and future projects in a video format at the Indian Pavilion being set up at Cannes.

Paban Kumar will be taking along a script to Cannes to seek collaborators.