The 10th Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF) began on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio in Kahilipara, Guwahati, showcasing 45 selected short films, documentaries and short features across competitive and non-competitive screening sections.
The two-day festival, scheduled for October 24 and 25, aims to bring together film enthusiasts, critics and filmmakers from eastern India through works highlighting nationalism, India’s ancient civilisation, culture and heritage. Organised by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra-Assam, the festival carries the theme ‘Our Heritage, Our Pride’. National Award-winning filmmaker Dr Santwana Bardoloi inaugurated the event.
The preview committee, comprising award-winning director Jhulan Krishna Mahanta, filmmaker Bibhu Dutta, cinematographer Hiten Thakuria, sound engineer Dipak Dutta and singer Babita Sharma, selected the films for the festival. A jury of artistes, critics and filmmakers has selected winners in eight categories, who will receive trophies, certificates and cash prizes.
Ahead of the festival, screening programmes were held at Nirmal Haloi College in Patacharkuchi and Nalbari College, where students watched award-winning short features and documentaries from the previous year’s selection.
A special screening of ‘Bhupen da Uncut’, directed by filmmaker Bobbeeta Sharma, is scheduled as a tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika on his birth centenary. A souvenir titled Chalachitram, edited by senior cine journalist Hemchandra Doley, will also be released.
The valedictory function on Sunday afternoon will be attended by state cabinet minister Nilima Devi and other dignitaries.
Vishwa Samvad Kendra-Assam secretary Kishor Shivam, CNFF president Nava Thakuria and secretary Bhagawat Pritam said the festival aims to encourage emerging filmmakers and promote cinema as a medium for social change, the empowerment of underprivileged communities and the promotion of patriotism.
/filters:format(webp)/pratidin/media/media_files/2026/10/24/cnff-011-2026-10-24-13-18-53.png)
Alongside, Japanese film ‘Kintsugi’, directed by Noomen Noomen, was screened as the inaugural film of the 10th Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF), which began on October 24, 2026, at Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio in Kahilipara, Guwahati.
The short feature tells the story of a Japanese salaryman haunted by unresolved grief and childhood trauma, who eventually accepts death and moves peacefully beyond life. The two-day festival is showcasing 44 acclaimed documentaries and short features across competitive and non-competitive screening sections.
Organised by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra-Assam, the festival was inaugurated in the morning by National Award-winning filmmaker Dr Santwana Bardoloi. This year’s central theme is ‘Our Heritage, Our Pride’.
A special screening of ‘Bhupen da Uncut’, directed by filmmaker Bobbeeta Sharma, is also scheduled to pay tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika on the occasion of his birth centenary. A souvenir titled Chalachitram, edited by senior cine journalist Hemchandra Doley, is also scheduled for release.
The preview committee comprising award-winning director Jhulan Krishna Mahanta, veteran filmmaker Bibhu Dutta, cinematographer Hiten Thakuria, sound engineer Dipak Dutta and singer Babita Sharma selected the films for the festival. A jury of artistes, critics and filmmakers has selected the winners in eight categories. The winners will receive trophies, certificates and cash prizes.
The valedictory function on the afternoon of October 25 will be attended by state cabinet minister Nilima Devi and other dignitaries. Uzbek filmmaker Asadbek Akmal Ogli’s short feature ‘Present’ will be screened as the closing film. It follows a group of young cancer patients who encounter a clown, find temporary relief through the encounter and later emerge as a sensible physician, as described in the festival note.
The organisers noted that India hosts several national film festivals across different periods of the year. CNFF joins a wider circuit that includes MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, Great Indian Film and Literature Festival, Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival, Alpavirama South Asian Short & Documentary Film Festival, Bangalore Queer Film Festival, Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival, Cinemela Film Festival, Flashpoint Human Rights Film Festival, Golden Jury Film Festival, Hyderabad Bengali Film Festival, Indogma Film Festival, Jagran Film Festival, Jeevika Film Festival, Kalakari Film Festival, Madhubani Film Festival, New Delhi Film Festival, National Science Film Festival, Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema, Patna Film Festival, Rajasthan Film Festival, Tigerland India Film Festival, Verite Film Festival and Vibgyor Film Festival.
On behalf of the organising committee, Vishwa Samvad Kendra-Assam secretary Kishor Shivam, CNFF president Nava Thakuria and secretary Bhagawat Pritam expressed hope that the festival would encourage emerging filmmakers to use cinema to promote social change across the subcontinent, empower underprivileged communities and foster a sense of patriotism.