The 10th edition of the Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF) will begin in Guwahati on Saturday, 24 October, bringing together filmmakers, critics, artists and cinema enthusiasts for two days of screenings celebrating India’s cultural heritage and storytelling traditions.
The festival, scheduled for 24 and 25 October at the Jyoti Chitraban premises in Kahilipara, will showcase 45 selected short films and documentaries across competitive and non-competitive sections.
Organised by Chalachitram, an initiative associated with Vishwa Samvad Kendra (VSK), Assam, the festival will be held under the theme Our Heritage, Our Pride, focusing on films that explore the country’s history, civilisation, cultural diversity and traditional values.
National Award-winning filmmaker Dr Santwana Bardoloi will inaugurate the festival on Saturday morning. The event is expected to provide a platform for emerging and established filmmakers, particularly from eastern and northeastern India, to present their work and engage with audiences.
The festival, which began in 2017 as the Guwahati Film Festival, was renamed Chalachitram National Film Festival in 2019. Over the years, it has sought to encourage filmmaking that connects traditional cultural narratives with contemporary cinematic expression, under the mentorship of Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna.
Its themes extend beyond history and heritage to include indigenous communities, the freedom movement, mythology, national integration, traditional arts, women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, social reform and the cultural traditions of the Northeast.
The organisers believe short films and documentaries can play an important role in bringing lesser-known stories to wider audiences, particularly those concerning local communities, cultural identities and traditions that receive limited attention in mainstream cinema.
A preview committee comprising award-winning director Jhulan Krishna Mahanta, veteran filmmaker Bibhu Dutta, cinematographer Hiten Thakuria, sound engineer Dipak Dutta and singer Babita Sharma has selected the films for this year’s screenings.
A separate jury of filmmakers, artists and critics has selected winners in eight categories. The awards, comprising trophies, certificates and cash prizes, will be presented during the festival.
A special attraction will be the screening of Bhupen da Uncut, directed by filmmaker Bobbeeta Sharma, as a tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika during his birth centenary celebrations.
The screening is expected to add a distinctive cultural dimension to the festival, recognising the legacy of the legendary singer, composer and filmmaker whose work brought Assam’s music and cultural traditions to national and international audiences.
As part of the festival’s outreach initiatives, screenings were also organised at Nirmal Haloi College in Patacharkuchi and Nalbari College, featuring award-winning short films and documentaries from the previous edition.
The initiative was aimed at introducing students to independent filmmaking and encouraging an appreciation of cinema beyond commercial entertainment.
Last year’s ninth edition, held in November 2025, featured more than 30 short films and documentaries. Among the award winners were Koli, directed by Jyotirmoy Mazumder, and Joba, directed by Indira Baikerikar. The festival also featured discussions involving established actors and emerging filmmakers.
The growing participation in the festival reflects the increasing opportunities available to independent filmmakers, particularly those working with limited resources and exploring regional narratives through short-format cinema.
A souvenir titled Chalachitram, edited by senior film journalist Hemchandra Doley, will also be released during the event.
Announcing the programme, VSK Assam secretary Kishor Shivam, CNFF 2026 president Nava Thakuria and secretary Bhagawat Pritam said the festival would continue to encourage filmmakers to explore India’s cultural and social heritage through cinema.
With its tenth edition, Chalachitram aims to strengthen its position as a platform for independent filmmakers and audiences interested in stories rooted in regional identity, cultural heritage and contemporary society.
