Imphal: Manipur will host the second National Tribal Film Festival, Tribal Frames Manipur 2026, from November 12 to 15. The Department of Tribal Affairs and Hills, the Tribal Research Institute, and the Manipur State Film Development Society are organizing the event with backing from the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The Palace Auditorium in Imphal serves as the venue for the four-day event, which highlights more than 28 films from regions including Ladakh, Jharkhand, and the Northeast.
R Rang Peter, Director of the Department of Tribal Affairs and Hills, confirmed the government is prioritizing broad representation. "The festival would provide a national platform for tribal filmmakers and storytellers to present indigenous narratives, languages, cultures and contemporary realities through cinema," Peter said. The agenda features filmmaker masterclasses, panel discussions, and the Tribal Lens Photography Exhibition, which runs from November 12 to 18.
A pre-festival workshop, TFM 20 Emerging Voices, trains 20 young participants from Manipur’s six hill districts between November 10 and 12. The festival also spotlights Mizoram cinema and a partnership with Green Hub. Following the film event, the State-Level Tribal Cultural Festival starts November 15 at Imphal’s City Convention Centre. These festivities align with Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas and Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada to mark the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Attendees can expect traditional dance, music, indigenous food, and markets selling tribal handlooms and crafts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the cultural festival via video conference to honor the legacy of tribal communities and freedom fighters. Traditional games will round out the final celebration, which concludes on November 18.
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