The second edition of the Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) has a special ASEAN Section this year.
The ASEAN Section of the fest was opened by State Industries and Commerce and Act East Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Friday. The 10 ASEAN nations that have assumed renewed importance from the Centre and Assam Government’s increasing thrust on the Act East Policy.
Cambodian film In the Life of Music directed by Caylee So and Sok Visal was screened at the beginning of the ASEAN Section of the festival.
Addressing the gathering, Patowary said India and ASEAN have a common history of socioeconomic affinity and films and cultural exchanges are another medium to strengthen the bond.
Pabitra Margherita, chairman, Jyoti-Chitraban (Film Studio) Society, and the cast and crew members of the movie In the Life of Music were also present on the occasion.
Two films from Lativa and one from Croatia are having their Asian premiere in Guwahati in the presence of cast and crew as well as envoys from these nations.
Also films from Argentina, Combodia, Lithunia, India, UK, Brazil and Thiland will have their India premiere at GIFF 2018.
Some of the films from the Northeast selected for the competition section are Arup Manna’s Aamrityu, Himjyoti Talukdar’s Calendar, Khanjan Kishore Nath’s Chor, Monjul Baruah’s Kaaneen, Biswajeet Bora’s Phehujali and Bidyut Kotoky’s Xhixobote Dhemalite.
Some of the international films to be screened during the festival are A Ciambra, A Family, All the Dreams in the World, Amok, Appendix, Ballad from Tibet, Barbaram Bhuban Majhi, Bilu: A Demon Within, Birds Are Singing in Kigali, Comic Sans, Cuernavaca, Daybreak, Dede, Denmark, Disappearance and many other.