Smitakshi B Goswami's ‘The Silent Crisis’ Wins Best Non-Fiction at Chalachitram Fest

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Guwahati: Filmmaker and Pratidin Media Network director Smitakshi Baruah Goswami’s The Silent Crisis was adjudged the best non-fiction film in the North East India section of the 10th Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF 2026), with the final jury results announced at the closing ceremony held at Jyoti Chitraban in Kahilipara, Guwahati, on Sunday, October 25, the second and last day of the festival.

The documentary turns the spotlight on vulture conservation as a vital part of wildlife protection. It is set in a village in Dhakuakhana in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, where a forest patch behind the home of Phuleswari Dutta shelters a large number of vultures. Dutta faced criticism and hostility from fellow villagers for sheltering the birds, but she struggled past the opposition and stayed the course. Her efforts were recognised with the Assam Gaurav award last year.

The two-day festival, held on October 24 and 25 under the theme “Our Heritage, Our Pride”, drew 95 short films and documentaries. Of these, 45 were selected after screening, and 44 short films and documentaries were eventually shown to audiences over the two days. The jury evaluated the selected entries and drew up separate lists of winners for the North East India section and the Rest of India section.

At the closing ceremony, the trophies were presented by animal husbandry, veterinary and fisheries minister Nilima Devi and Dr Sunil Mohanty of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s North East unit. Goswami’s win in the non-fiction category was among six awards given in the North East section, which also recognised Parshuram Thingnam’s Toy Gun as the best fiction film, Samujjal Kashyap’s The Khamyang Story for best cinematography, and Pramod Das’s Anant Jatra for best editing. Sumi Saikia was named best director for In 9 Months, while Siddhartha Sharma took the best screenplay award for Ankur.

In the Rest of India section, Somnath Bag’s Gaach Pathar won the best fiction award, and Harikishan MV’s The Redemption (Veen Deduppu) was named the best non-fiction film. The jury also gave a special mention to Take Away, directed by Nithan.