Imphal: Manipur will host the second edition of the National Tribal Film Festival, Tribal Frames Manipur 2026, from November 12 to 15, featuring more than 28 films from Northeast India, Ladakh, Jharkhand and other tribal regions of the country.
The four-day festival is being organised by the Department of Tribal Affairs and Hills through the Tribal Research Institute (TRI), in collaboration with the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) and with support from the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Addressing the media on Monday, R Rang Peter, Director of the Department of Tribal Affairs and Hills, said the festival would be held at the Palace Auditorium of the MSFDS in Imphal. He also said the government was committed to ensuring inclusive participation in the event.
The screenings will include feature films, documentaries and short films highlighting indigenous narratives, languages, cultures and contemporary realities. The programme will also feature filmmaker interactions, masterclasses, panel discussions, cultural performances and the Tribal Lens Photography Exhibition.
A pre-festival initiative, TFM 20 Emerging Voices, will organise a three-day filmmaking workshop from November 10 to 12 for 20 young participants from Manipur’s six hill districts. The initiative is aimed at developing filmmaking skills among young tribal storytellers and encouraging them to document stories from their 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.
Tribal Lens 2026, a photography initiative and exhibition, will run from November 12 to 18, showcasing the cultures, traditions, livelihoods, landscapes and everyday lives of tribal communities.
Alongside the film festival, the department will organise the State-Level Tribal Cultural Festival 2026 from November 15 to 18 at the City Convention Centre in Imphal, with support from the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
The celebrations will begin on November 15 with Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. The programme will feature traditional dances and music, cultural performances, live music, indigenous cuisines, exhibitions and sales of tribal handlooms, handicrafts and other indigenous products. Traditional games will also be organised.
Peter said the event would mark the culmination of Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada and commemorate the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda. It would also recognise the contributions and sacrifices of tribal communities and freedom fighters in the country’s history.
He further said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the state-level cultural festival through video conference.