New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS): In a bid to boost the film industry in the northeast, a film institute will soon be set up in Arunachal Pradesh, DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday.

At a northeast film festival, "Fragrances of the Northeast", being held in the capital, the minister of state for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) said the entire region was bestowed with scenic beauty which can match with the most beautiful locations in the world.

"But unfortunately, this vast potential of the region has remained under-utilised by the film industry," he said.

Thanking Finance and Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley for including in the budget the setting up of a film institute in Arunachal Pradesh, Jitendra Singh said: "This will not only help in boosting the film industry in the northeast but would also facilitate filmmakers from Bollywood, Tollywood and other parts of the country to explore the exclusive locales of the region."

The minister felicitated veteran Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma, a retrospective of whose works is also being held as part of the three-day festival that started on Saturday.