Dimapur, Aug. 25 (EMN): 24-year-old Sorenzan Vashum, a photographer from Ukhrul, Manipur was adjudged the winner of the Big Shorts Challenge, North East Edition initiated by All Bout Cinema (ABC) Talkies.
An update issued on Aug. 25 informed that Vashum is a self-taught artist who started his creative journey using his mobile phone and is currently working as a wedding photographer and makes music videos too.
Interestingly, the contest-winning film is Vashum’s first short film.
His documentary based on a real-life story titled, “My Story is God’s Story,” was the highest viewed film in the contest making him emerge as the winner. The film tells the story of a 19-year-old girl, named Chanmayo who was diagnosed with a very rare dermatological disorder called pustular psoriasis when she was just six years old. Her rare condition causes her skin cells to reproduce much faster than the normal rate. The video revolves around her life story and depicts the struggles and hardships of living with her rare medical condition and her acceptance in Christ along with her family’s unwavering faith and prayer, and her resilient faith in God despite the painful circumstances.
The film concludes with a happy ending of her singing in a fellowship, her transition from pain to leading a normal life. Bringing the best out of the film is Chanmayo Kashung starring in the film giving the short film a personal and authentic feel.
Sharing his excitement, Vashum said he always wanted to try his hands in filmmaking and expressed his gratitude to ABC Talkies for providing a platform for young and amateur but passionate photographers like himself to display his work.
He said: "The Big Short Challenges" inspired me to muster the courage for my first filmmaking experience and it sure was a wonderful experience. I gained a lot of invaluable experience by participating in the competition. It taught me how a filmmaker should be flexible and always be ready for all unforeseen circumstances throughout the process.
Vashum maintained that participating in the competition gave him the confidence to follow his dreams. Through his success in the competition, the young man advised all young dreamers like him to remind themselves that the only safe thing is to take a chance and give it a shot. He said, ‘film is a battleground.’
The Big Shorts Challenge is a nationwide contest initiated by ABC Talkies for independent filmmakers across all genres and languages. Following the successful completion of the first edition i.e. the PAN India Influencers and Content Creators, the Northeast edition was successfully concluded.
Commenting further on the Big Shorts Challenge, Shalibhadra Shah, CEO, ABC Talkies said, “Film contests traditionally have a jury which sets out to select the winner based on various criteria.
He said: Vashum’s ‘My Story is God’s Story’ made its mark amongst the viewers in the same manner and we wish him all the best. This ought to be the beginning for this young talent to reach newer heights in filmmaking.”
ABC Talkies was envisioned to help independent filmmakers by creating a platform where films would not be judged by individuals with biases and no film canned. This is clearly evident in the Big Shorts Challenge as the first contest based strictly on the film’s merits and performance. As a part of ABC Talkies’ mission to support and empower independent filmmakers, the contest was designed in a manner wherein the audience decides the fate of the participants.
About ABC Talkies:
ABC Talkies: ABC (All Bout Cinema) Talkies is a Film- tech start-up launched in February 2021 by a group of professionals from diverse backgrounds. A concept that started developing as a lockdown pursuit, ABC Talkies describes itself as the World's First Cinema Marketplace. A one of its kind venture in the country, it is a free trade marketplace for cinema and filmmakers to thrive. It is the first online marketplace where filmmakers are free to showcase their work of art and in the process monetize it. ABC Talkies not only aims in providing a digital platform for filmmakers from independent, amateur and brand new filmmakers where they can showcase and monetize their work but also assists them in marketing and promoting their creations. The idea to match talent of unreleased movies and make it easy for film projects to see the light of the day.
A versatile, analytical and connected marketplace, its mission is to transform the way people make and watch movies. ABC Talkies intends to bring about a cinematic revolution by allowing talents to transition into the digital world seamlessly.
ABC Talkies is also keen on fostering talents from tier two cities, smaller towns and states where opportunities for filmmakers are otherwise few and far between.