Guwahati, Assam: Manipuri feature film Enoong Ngallamdai (Fireflies in the Dark) has made its world premiere at the 2026 Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), bringing stories of survival and resilience from conflict-affected Manipur to an international audience.
The 85-minute film was showcased under the festival’s Panorama Cinemas of Asia section and centres on the human experiences emerging from the ethnic violence that shook Manipur in 2023. Through a series of interconnected narratives, the film examines how ordinary people navigate uncertainty, displacement and trauma while holding on to hope.
Among the characters are a pregnant woman attempting to deliver her child amid the chaos of gunfire, a young boy desperately searching for his missing mother, and a café owner who shelters those escaping violence despite the risks to her own safety. Together, their stories offer a deeply personal perspective on life during times of conflict.
Directed by Yogesh Lohan and co-written by Lohan and Chingsanglakpa, the film adopts a non-linear narrative structure, blending multiple experiences to create a broader reflection on the consequences of violence. The filmmakers employ a restrained visual style, using handheld camerawork and intimate storytelling to focus on human emotions rather than dramatic depictions of conflict.
Producer Jani Viswanath said the project seeks to examine the lives that continue beyond headlines and tragedy, highlighting the resilience of communities forced to rebuild after devastating events.
Lohan said the idea for the film was shaped by conversations with survivors across Manipur. Before finalising the screenplay, he spent time in the state listening to first-hand accounts of people who had suffered displacement, loss and uncertainty. Those interactions became the foundation of the film’s emotional and narrative framework.
Shot at actual locations across Manipur, the production involved extensive collaboration with local communities. According to the filmmakers, the objective was to authentically represent lived experiences while avoiding sensational portrayals of suffering.
The cast includes Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, recognised for his role in the BAFTA-winning film Boong, along with Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi, Angom Pamdamba Singh, Aheibam Chiranjit, Luwang Yumlembam and Ratan Lai.
In addition to seasoned performers, the film features several first-time actors drawn from remote settlements and relief camps. The makers believe their participation added authenticity to the narrative, reflecting experiences that closely mirror the realities portrayed on screen.
For the production team, the premiere at VIFF marks a significant achievement after overcoming the logistical and emotional challenges associated with bringing the project to completion. Lohan described the international screening as a meaningful opportunity to share stories from Manipur with wider audiences.
The film continues Viswanath’s long-standing engagement with regional cinema and underrepresented narratives. Her body of work includes Assamese, Boro and Manipuri productions that explore local cultures and social realities through independent filmmaking.
The technical team includes cinematographer Ravi Ranjan Sharma, creative director Meena Longjam, sound designers Amrit Pritam and Debajit Changmai, editor Tinni Mitra and music composer Daniel B George, with Rajni Basumatary serving as executive producer.
While rooted in the experiences of Manipur, Fireflies in the Dark carries a broader message on the futility of violence and the importance of coexistence. Through stories of courage, grief and endurance, the film seeks to shift attention from the conflict itself to the people striving to rebuild their lives in its aftermath.
