The 18th International Guwahati Film Festival will be held from February 13 to 17 at the Kanaklal Baruah Auditorium of the Assam State Museum in Ambari. The five-day event is being organised by the Guwahati Cine Club in association with the Federation of Film Societies of India (Eastern Region).
Founded in 1965, the Guwahati Cine Club is one of the city’s oldest film societies and has been hosting the festival as part of its effort to promote meaningful cinema in Assam.
The 18th International Guwahati Film Festival will run from February 13 to 17 at Kanaklal Baruah Auditorium, Ambari. Organised by the Guwahati Cine Club, the festival will screen 16 films from multiple countries and honour filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma.
Global Line-Up in Guwahati
This year’s edition will screen 16 films from across the world, including entries from:
- Germany
- Russia
- Portugal
- Iran
- Sri Lanka
- Brazil
An English-language Indian film will also be featured. Alongside international selections, audiences in Guwahati can watch films in Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, and Manipuri.
The screenings are expected to attract film enthusiasts, students, and members of the city’s creative community.
Inaugural and Retrospective
Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma will attend the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest.
The festival will honour his contribution to Indian cinema with a special retrospective showcasing three of his landmark films. His acclaimed classic Ishanou has been selected as the opening film.
Tributes to Cultural Icons
According to Madhurima Baruah, Secretary of the Guwahati Cine Club, this year’s festival is dedicated to:
- The birth centenary of Bhupen Hazarika
- Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg
As a tribute to Zubeen Garg, the festival will screen Dinabandhu, directed by Munin Baruah, on the concluding day.
The festival will also host the premiere of Samarpan, directed by Arup Manna.
Rajni Basumatary will attend as the guest of honour, and her 2023 film Go Phakhri has been selected as the closing film.
Why It Matters for Guwahati
Held at the Assam State Museum complex in Ambari, the festival adds to Guwahati’s cultural calendar by bringing international and regional cinema to local audiences.
The event provides a platform for film discussions, cross-cultural exchange, and appreciation of independent and regional filmmaking traditions.
With its legacy dating back to 1965, the Guwahati Cine Club continues to position the city as a cultural hub in Northeast India.
What Happens Next?
The festival begins on February 13 and runs through February 17.
Screening schedules and entry details are expected to be available through the Guwahati Cine Club’s official communication channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Guwahati International Film Festival being held?
The festival will take place from February 13 to 17 at the Kanaklal Baruah Auditorium, Assam State Museum, Ambari.
Who is the chief guest for the 18th edition?
Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma will attend the inaugural ceremony as chief guest.