The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has announced the Indian Panorama Official Selection for the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025, and Manipuri filmmaker Borun Thokchom’s documentary Battlefield has been selected for this prestigious category. The film will have its world premiere at the festival, scheduled to take place from November 20 to 28, 2025, in Goa.

IFFI, organized by the Government of India, is the only film festival in South Asia accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF) among international festivals in the Competitive Feature Films category — a distinction that highlights its global stature and credibility in the world of cinema.

Produced by Manjoy Lourembam, Dr. Radhesyam Oinam, and Viswamithra Universals, Battlefield is a powerful documentary exploring the lingering effects of World War II in Manipur, as told through the memories of survivors and families affected by its aftermath. The film also exposes the contrast between the international celebration of war heroes and the silence surrounding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. War researcher Rajeshwor Yumnam is featured in the documentary, which was filmed over a decade.

Producer Manjoy Lourembam, a Hyderabad-based corporate professional and passionate wildlife photographer, makes his debut as a producer with this project. Producer Dr. Radhesyam Oinam, proprietor of Network Services, Imphal, has long been a mentor to emerging filmmakers in Manipur.

Notably, Battlefield was incubated and developed at the Manipur State Film Development Society’s (MSFDS) “Imphal Documentor”, a five-day documentary development lab organized in collaboration with Documentary Resource Initiative (DRI), Kolkata, and Television Cine Foundation Manipur in 2022.