Guwahati: Curtains came down for the 9th Chalachitram National Film Festival at Jyoti Chitraban premise in Kahilipara on 30 November 2025, as distinguished guests of the closing ceremony handed over the awards along with the certificates and cash prizes to the winning filmmakers in the presence of eminent film personalities, novice director-producers and common cine-goers. Organized by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra-Assam, the two-day CNFF-25 showcased over 30 short features and documentaries in both competitive and screening categories, where ‘Koli’, directed by Jyotirmoy Mazumder, was adjudged as the best short feature in northeast India category and ‘Joba’, directed by Indira Baikerikar, was awarded with best short feature in the rest of India section.
Best documentary award was conferred on ‘The String Master’, directed by Biswajit Das, whereas best director’s award went to Bismita Borah for her short feature ‘Who Will Call Out Father Father’. ‘Expectation’ team comprising Ramjyoti Krincharan, Ajijul Islam and Elvachisa Sangma received best cinematography award, whereas best editing award went to Samujjal Kashyap for the film ‘Muga’ and best screenplay award to Irungbam Manisana for ‘The Silent Performer’. The jury board consisting of renowned filmmaker, critic & writer, Vijayakrishnan, national award winning filmmaker Maipaksana Haorongbam and leading sound designer & mixer Debajit Gayan made a special mention to ‘Just Breath’, directed by Shreyas S Gautam.
Gracing the closing function, Assam legislative assembly speaker Biswajit Daimary appreciated the move to encourage the short duration filmmakers with a gorgeous platform. He also expressed hope that they would continue making films focusing on the country’s heritage and culture. Daimary cited a number of mythological and historical characters from far eastern Bharat which deserve due reflections in the movies and digital platforms. Sharing the dais, Jyoti Chitraban film society chairman Bidyasagar Bora and CNFF-25 president Nava Thakuria also encouraged the film fraternity in their endeavour to create films for the national cause. ‘The First Film’, directed by Piyush Thakur was screened as the closing film, whereas ‘Aham Bhartam’, directed by Bharat Bala, was shown as the opening film of the festival.
The unique visual feast for film buffs with the central theme ‘Our Heritage Our Pride’ received nearly hundred entries (produced between 1 November 2024 and 15 September 2025 with the duration of maximum 25 minutes), out of which the preview committee comprising of veteran filmmaker Bibhu Dutta, award winning director Jhulan Krishna Mahanta and accomplished cinematographer Hiten Thakuria selected the package for screening. The festival fostering nationalism and making cinema to pay homage to thousands of years of Indian civilization, culture and heritage, was inaugurated by Dr Sunil Mohanty, Asom Khetra prachar pramukh of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on 29 November by lighting sacred lamps in front of Bharat Mata’s portrait and also three Assamese cultural icons namely Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika, heart-throb Zubeen Garg and flutist Deepak Sarma.
An outdoor discussion on film performance, technique and audience’s response, moderated by poet and film critic Aparajita Pujari, where popular Assamese actors Jatin Bora and Kapil Bora along with multifaceted performers Poonam Gurung and Kamal Lochan participated, attracted a number of young filmmaker and appreciators. Release of souvenir Chalachitram and a special screening of ‘Mon Jai’ as a tribute to Zubeen Garg added colour to the festival. On behalf of the organizing committee Kishor Shivam, Bhagawat Pritam, Riju Dutta, Sanjib Parasar, Deepak Dutta, Pranjit Deka, Buddha Boro, etc hope that the CNFF would encourage the budding filmmakers to promote filmmaking as a powerful tool for the social change across the sub-continent in the coming days.
