Ladakh Film Society, (LFS) organized a one-day seminar on media, film, and television on December 7 at Lotsava Auditorium, Cultural Academy, Leh.

The day highlighted the importance of cinematography course among the filmmakers and media enthusiast of Leh so that more youths can excel in this field in the near future.

Dr. Sonam Dawa, CEC said that Ladakh is rich in culture and heritage and people in the field of filmmaking, media and cultural concerned departments and societies are putting every effort into preserving and protecting it.

“We thought that if professional training is organized in Leh, it will be very helpful for them.  And Phuntsok Ladakhi gave an idea and initiated to organize Cinematography course in collaboration with FTII, Pune in Leh”, Dr. Sonam Dawa added.

He further informed that under district plan, some funds for the preservation of art and culture of Ladakh has kept. There is a need to think for judiciously and correctly use of this fund and asked experts in this field for a suggestion.

The 16 cinematographer and videographer who participated in the recently organized Cinematography course for 20 days in Leh expressed their experience during the training course.

Tsewang Dorjay, said, “I have been working in this field for 24 years and until today I have compiled videos, documentaries etc without complete knowledge. But during the training course, I get to learn many new things. I feel amazed and proud to find that even without having complete knowledge about Camera, people of Ladakh has screened so many films till today.”

Participants further requested CEC to organize such training course more in future so that the scope of this field could be widened for the younger generation.

Sonam Sopari, President Ladakh Film Society briefed about the objective of this society and its activities. He said that there are many people who are working in this field in Ladakh but there is a  need to create a common platform to meet and discuss what can be done in this field.

He further added, “We all are working for the preservation of our culture and heritage. Many outsiders came to Ladakh and capture our landscape, culture, and heritage. It is our responsibility to keep an eye on them whether they are not misguiding the people, whether they deliver the right information about our land.”

Padmashree awardee Morup Namgyal raised the deplorable condition of Doordarshan Leh and requested to seek the intervention of Hill Council to make it more functional so that the people in this field can get an opportunity to showcase their talent and generate income sources at large.

Jailesh Singh Jaykar, Deputy Director, Doordarshan, Leh talked about the technical things in Television production, while Dechan Chamgha, President Ladakh Media and Culture Society, Leh also spoke on the occasion.