Guwahati: The Chalachitram National Film Festival, an annual treat for dedicated movie enthusiasts, begins Saturday in the eastern part of Bharat, showcasing 50 documentaries and short films across competitive and non-competitive categories. Aimed at promoting nationalism through film and paying tribute to India’s ancient civilization, culture, and heritage, the two-day film fest (26–27 October 2024) invites cinephiles to enjoy its screenings. The 8th edition, held at Jyoti Chitraban in Kahilipara, will be inaugurated by Cotton University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ramesh Ch Deka, alongside national award-winning singer Tarali Sarma and other dignitaries.
Organized by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra Assam, the festival is themed ‘Our Heritage, Our Pride’ and highlights issues such as Land & People, Tourism, Arts, Handicrafts & Textiles, Manuscripts & Paintings, Woodcarving, Music, Cultural Festivals, Heritage Sites, Social Reformers, Sports, Tea & Oil Industries, Social Awareness, Family Values, Women, and the Environment. The Last Generation, directed by Prabal Khaund and produced by Gopal Jalan and Dhrubojyoti Kakati, will open the festival.
The Northeast competition category features noteworthy films such as Birubala-the Crusader (by Dhiraj Kashyap), Prayojan (by Krishna Das), and Aadi Shakti Maa Kamakhya (by Pradip Ch Sarma). Non-competitive films include Being Bald (by Krishna Das) and Destination (by Dipak Kumar Roy).
In the national competition, entries include My National Flag (by Sweta Kumar Dash) and The Waiting (by Lalit Kr Jha & Sumit Kohli), while the non-competition section offers films like Gods of Clay – Matir Thakur (by Amit Bhattacharjee) and Khera- The Lakshmi of Chilika (by Sudeshna Gupta).
Screenings will run from 10 am to 6 pm both days. A jury comprising artists, critics, filmmakers, and writers will select winners, who will receive cash prizes, trophies, and certificates at the closing ceremony, attended by Assam’s cine-icon Mridula Barua, eminent filmmakers, and film enthusiasts. Organizers Bhagwat Pritam and Kishor Shivam express hope that the festival will inspire budding filmmakers to pursue quality storytelling, establishing cinema as a vehicle for social transformation rather than mere entertainment.
Nayan Nath
