Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh’s Manisha Halai has won the prestigious Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) award for her debut documentary film titled ‘Orange Beetle: Mother & I’.
Hailing from Wakro in Lohit district, she also won the Audience Award during the ceremony held recently in Bali, Indonesia.
“This remarkable achievement not only showcases the power of indigenous storytelling but also opens doors for many more voices from the Northeast and Himalayan region to shine worldwide,” Chief Minister Pema Khandu posted on X.
Khandu added, “Her story is nothing short of extraordinary, a first-generation learner from one of the remotest villages of Arunachal, now celebrated on the global stage for her deeply personal film in the Kaman Mishmi language. Out of 292 entries across Asia, her debut project captured both jury and audience hearts, a truly rare double win!”
Currently working as a training assistant with Green Hub at Tezpur in Assam, she participated in the ‘Docs by the Sea’ (DBTS) storytelling lab and pitching forum at Bali from Sept 4 to 10.
Halai not only pitched for her film at an international platform for the first time, but was also the first Green Hub fellow to present a film at a global stage.
The documentary has been made in the Kaman Mishmi language.
The film is being produced by Academy-nominated filmmakers Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh. It was incubated at the Himalayan Story Lab, the first lab in India for filmmakers from the Himalayan regions.
ALSO READ: Arunachal Pradesh: Dr. Naba Kumar Bezbaruah appointed dean, functional director of TRIHMS
The ‘Docs By The Sea’ (DBTS) is Asia’s premier documentary pitching platform, offering mentorship, co-production opportunities, and industry exposure to both emerging and established filmmakers.
It brings together independent documentary filmmakers from across Asia to pitch their projects to international producers, mentors, and industry professionals.
