Meghalaya disburses film grants under ‘Hello Meghalaya’ to boost local talent and creative industry

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 3, 2025

In a landmark move to empower local talent and strengthen the State’s creative economy, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, alongside Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, on Monday disbursed film grants under the Hello Meghalaya initiative at the State Convention Centre in Shillong.

The event brought together filmmakers, content creators, and cultural voices from across Meghalaya to celebrate creativity and storytelling, marking a significant moment for the State’s budding film industry.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that nearly half of Meghalaya’s population is under the age of 20, making it one of the youngest states in the country. “Realizing this demographic strength, we felt the need to focus on what drives our youth and how we can create an ecosystem for them to grow, do what they love, and generate value from it. We believe our youth have immense potential,” he said.

The initiative categorises grants into four segments:

• Category A: Six nominated filmmakers will receive up to Rs 35 lakh each to produce one feature film within a year.
• Category B: Eighteen filmmakers have been awarded up to Rs 25 lakh for feature films.
• Category C: Four recipients will get Rs 20 lakh per episode for web series, with a minimum of 10 episodes of 30–40 minutes each.
• Category D: Nineteen emerging filmmakers from Meghalaya have been awarded up to Rs 5 lakh each to create short films.

Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the initiative celebrates the spirit of Meghalaya and its indigenous cultures—Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo. He lauded the success of Hello Meghalaya and welcomed suggestions from the public on the upcoming Meghalaya Film Tourism Policy.

The event also showcased the first look of Ha Lyngkha Bneng (The Elysian Field), directed by Pradip Kurbah and his team.

A new Filmmaking Exchange Programme was also announced. For the first time, Meghalaya Tourism, in collaboration with the Film and Television Institute, Arunachal Pradesh, will conduct masterclasses led by award-winning director Dominic Sangma. The programme will include 30 students—15 each from Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh—and aims to build regional creative collaboration.

The event concluded with the flag-off of a 30-day film and awareness roadshow led by the Chief Minister. The mobile roadshow will screen films and promote public awareness across various districts of the State.