From Our Special Correspondent
The inaugural edition of the Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) 2025 got underway at Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio here on Friday with eight films showcased on the first day of the festival.
Iranian film, In the Arms of the Tree, by acclaimed director Babak Khajehpasha was the opening film to be screened at the three-day festival.
Other films screened throughout the day were: A Lab Story by Carlo Obispo, Amateurs by Dhiraj Kashyap, Ata Nirjon Duporiya by Khanjan Kishore Nath, Captain by Mohammad Hamzei, The Stranger by Biplob Sarkar, Not What You Think by Vuslat Saracoglu and House by Jamshid Narzikulov.
Internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage, eminent Indian theatre and film actor Sheeba Chaddha among other dignitaries took part in the inaugural session.
During the day, a discussion session on ‘The Future of North East India Cinema: Challenges, Opportunities and Global Prospects’ was conducted with critic and filmmaker Utpal Datta and Sibanu Bora, filmmakers Kangkan Deka and Deep Choudhury sharing their insights.
The engaging session was moderated by film critic Dipsikha Bhagawati.
Later, actor Sheeba Chaddha shared her insights and experiences from her cinematic journey, reflecting on the evolving landscape of Indian cinema and the nuances of character-driven storytelling.
In the special ‘Meet the Guest’ interaction presented by filmmaker Prerana Barbarooah, the importance of diverse narratives and her take on various characters was emphasised.
As many as 10 films are scheduled to be screened at the festival on Saturday.
Throughout the next two days, the festival will showcase a dynamic and diverse selection of films from across Asia, offering a platform for cultural exchange and artistic dialogue.
A curated selection of 25 feature films from over 200 submissions from across Asia, representing countries such as Iran, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Azerbaijan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Turkey are being showcased at the festival.