Manipuri Film ‘Fireflies In The Dark’ Premieres At Vancouver International Film Festival

Manipuri film Enoong Ngallamdai (Fireflies in the Dark) premiered at the 2026 Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), where it screened in the Panorama Cinemas of Asia section.

Directed by Yogesh Lohan, the 85-minute film is set during the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in 2023. It explores the human cost of conflict through three interconnected stories: a pregnant woman trying to give birth amid gunfire, a young boy searching for his mother with a displaced stray calf as his companion, and a café owner who shelters people fleeing the violence.

Producer Jani Viswanath said the film uses fragmented, non-linear storytelling and handheld cinematography to portray the conflict without aestheticising violence.

The narrative focuses instead on the lives of people caught in the crisis and their struggle to carry on amid uncertainty.

Lohan, who co-wrote the story with Chingsanglakpa, said the project took shape after he travelled to Manipur and met survivors of the violence.

“I came to this project first as a screenwriter. Before writing a single scene, I travelled to Manipur and met survivors who had lost everything. What struck me was not only their pain and trauma, but the quiet, stubborn hope that still lived in their eyes. That hope became the heartbeat of the film,” he said.

According to Lohan, the film was shot on location in Manipur, with the support and trust of local communities. He said the intention was to represent the experiences of those affected by the conflict without turning their suffering into spectacle.

The cast includes Bala Hijam Ningthoujam, known for the BAFTA-winning film Boong, along with Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi, Angom Pamdamba Singh, Aheibam Chiranjit, Luwang Yumlembam and Ratan Lai.

The film also features first-time actors from remote villages and refugee camps, several of whom had never appeared before a camera.

Viswanath said the production presented considerable challenges, but these actors’ participation brought their lived experiences to the screen.

Viswanath has previously produced several films rooted in regional narratives and the experiences of overlooked communities.

Her filmography includes Bidyut Kotoky’s multi-award-winning Assamese film Xhoixobote Dhemalite (Rainbow Fields), Rajni Basumatary’s Boro films Jwlwi – The Seed and Gorai Phakri (Wild Swans), and Meena Longjam’s Manipuri documentary Andro Dreams.

Ravi Ranjan Sharma’s cinematography shapes the film’s visual treatment, while Meena Longjam served as creative director. Amrit Pritam and Debajit Changmai handled the sound design, and Daniel B George composed the music. Tinni Mitra edited the film, and Rajni Basumatary executive-produced it.

For Lohan, screening the film at VIFF marked an important milestone after the challenges of bringing the project to completion.

“After everything we have gone through to bring this film to life, seeing it finally reach an audience feels incredibly special,” he said.

Viswanath said the film’s central message extends beyond Manipur, arguing that violence and conflict cannot provide a lasting solution to divisions within communities.

“The main message I want to convey as a humanitarian is that violence, conflict and chaos in any community anywhere in the world is never a solution to long-term peace. We need unity, positivity and harmony to sustain a habitable world,” she said.

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