Manipuri Film ‘Enoong Ngallamdai’ Premieres at Vancouver Festival, Highlights Hope Amid Conflict

The Manipuri feature film ‘Enoong Ngallamdai’ (Fireflies in the Dark), which explores hope, resilience and survival amid violence, premiered at the 2026 Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) on October 6. The 85-minute film was screened under the festival’s Panorama Cinemas of Asia lineup.

Set against the backdrop of the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in 2023, the film weaves together three stories highlighting the human cost of conflict. It follows a pregnant woman struggling to give birth amid gunfire, a young boy searching for his mother with only a displaced stray calf for company, and a cafe owner who risks her safety to shelter people fleeing the violence.

Writer-director Yogesh Lohan said the project began with his visits to Manipur, where he met survivors who had lost everything. Their suffering and trauma, alongside the determination and hope reflected in their eyes, became the emotional foundation of the film. Shot at real locations across Manipur with the trust and support of local communities, the film seeks to portray the resilience of people living through violence and uncertainty.

Producer Jani Viswanath said the film employs fragmented, non-linear storytelling and intimate handheld cinematography to depict the conflict without aestheticising violence. It focuses on people living on the margins of catastrophe and explores how they continue their lives when everything around them appears to have come to a standstill.

Viswanath described the production as extremely challenging and emphasised that violence, conflict and chaos cannot deliver lasting peace. She called for unity, positivity and harmony to build a sustainable and peaceful world.

The cast includes Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, known for the BAFTA-winning Manipuri film Boong, alongside Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi, Angom Pamdamba Singh, Aheibam Chiranjit, Luwang Yumlembam and Ratan Lai. Several first-time actors from remote villages and refugee camps also appear, bringing lived experiences and authenticity to the screen.

Ravi Ranjan Sharma handled cinematography, while Meena Longjam served as creative director. Amrit Pritam and Debajit Changmai worked on sound design, Daniel B George composed the music, and Tinni Mitra edited the film. Rajni Basumatary served as executive producer.

Ultimately, the film delivers a humanitarian message: hope can endure even in the darkest circumstances, while unity and harmony remain essential for lasting peace.