Guwahati: Japanese film ‘Kintsugi’, directed by Noomen Noomen, will be screened as the inaugural film of 10th Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF), scheduled for 24 and 25 October 2026 at Jyoti Chitraban film studio premise in Kahilipara locality of the city. The short feature deals with the tragic story of a Japanese salaryman haunted by unresolved grief and childhood trauma, who ultimately accepts death and moves peacefully beyond life. The festival will showcase 44 accliamed documentaries and short features in both competitive and only screening sections. Organised by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra- Assam, the unique film festival with the central theme ‘Our Heritage, Our Pride’ will be inaugurated by Dr Santwana Bardoloi, national award winning film director, at 11 am on Saturday. A special screening of ‘Bhupen da Uncut’, directed by popular film personality Bobbeeta Sharma, will be organized on the first day of CNFF-2026 to pay tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika on the occasion of the maestro’s birth centenary celebrations. A souvenir titled Chalachitram, edited by senior cine journalist Hemchandra Doley, will also be released on the occasion.
The preview committee comprising award winning director Jhulan Krishna Mahanta, veteran filmmaker Bibhu Dutta, accomplished cinematographer Hiten Thakuria, experienced sound engineer Dipak Dutta and acclaimed singer Babita Sharma has selected the package of film-works for screening at the festival. A jury board consisting of artistes, critics and film-makers has already selected the winning films in eight categories and they will be honoured with trophies, certificates, and cash prizes in the presence of distinguished film personalities and cine-goers. The valedictory function on 25 October afternoon will be graced by State cabinet minister Nilima Devi along with a number of dignitaries. ‘Present’, directed by Uzbek filmmaker Asadbek Akmal Ogli, will be screened as the closing film of the festival. The short feature narrates a story of a group of young cancer patients who encountered a clown to mesmerise themselves for some time, but later emerged as a sensible physician.
India today witnesses a number of intriguing national film festivals across the country in different time slots. Thus the CNFF has joined the elite clubs comprising MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, Great Indian Film and Literature Festival, Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival, Alpavirama South Asian Short & Documentary Film-fest, Bangalore Queer Film-fest, Brahmaputra Valley Film-fest, Cinemela Film-fest, Flashpoint Human Rights Film-fest, Golden Jury Film-fest, Hyderabad Bengali Film-fest, Indogma Film-fest, Jagran Film-fest, Jeevika Film-fest, Kalakari Film-fest, Madhubani Film-fest, New Delhi Film-fest, National Science Film-fest, Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema, Patna Film-fest, Rajasthan Film-fest, Tigerland India Film-fest, Verite Film-fest, Vibgyor Film-fest, etc. On behalf of the organizing committee, VSK Assam secretary Kishor Shivam, CNFF president Nava Thakuria and secretary Bhagawat Pritam, hope that the film festival would go a long way to encourage the budding filmmakers in engaging the medium for social changes across the sub-continent empowering the underprivileged section and creating a sense of patriotism among everyone.
Kintsugi to be screened as inaugural film of 10th Chalachitram film-fest
