Guwahati: The Guwahati Cine Club, established in 1965, is set to host the 18th International Guwahati Film Festival from Feb 13 to 17 at the state museum’s Kanaklal Baruah Auditorium in the city’s Ambari area.The five-day cinematic celebration will showcase 16 films from around the world, including entries from Germany, Russia, Portugal, Iran, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Vietnam and Montenegro. In addition to international selections, the festival will feature films in Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Manipuri and English.
Focusing strongly on Manipur this year, internationally acclaimed filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma will attend the inaugural event as the chief guest. A special retrospective segment will honour his contribution to Indian cinema, with three of his landmark films to be screened. His 1990 classic ‘Ishanou’ has been selected as the inaugural film, while ‘Imagi Ningthem’ and ‘Sanabi’ will also be showcased during the festival.Madhurima Baruah, the secretary of the club, said, “This year’s edition is dedicated to two towering cultural figures, Bhupen Hazarika, legendary musician, filmmaker and one of the founder members of the club, and Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg. As a tribute to Zubeen, the festival will screen Dinabandhu (2004), directed by Munin Baruah, in which he played a prominent role.”She added that the festival will also host the premiere of the Assamese film ‘Samarpan’, directed by Arup Manna. Filmmaker Rajni Basumatary will also be attending as guest of honour, with her film ‘Gorai Phakhri’ (2023) slated as the closing film.
