Guwahati: The third edition of the Guwahati International Film Festival started off on Thursday in the city. The festival will screen more than 100 films from 65 countries.
The seven-day festival is organised by the state government-owned Jyoti Chitraban in association with the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Polish film director Krzysztof Zanussi and National Award-winning film maker Madhur Bhandarkar
The event was inaugurated by Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence of actor Adil Hussain and other prominent dignitaries.
The state government has allotted Rs 1.94 crore for the festival with a cost of Rs 40,000 for every film to be screened at the film festival.
While inaugurating the event at Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the festival had brought global integration.
“This is how filmmaking efforts have brought the world closer. I’m proud that this particular assembly has brought together luminaries from different parts of the world. I’m sure our young generation will get motivated with this kind of assembly” he added
Sonowal also invited the filmmakers to shoot their films in Assam and assured all support from the state government.
Speaking on the role of promoting quality cinema’s Legendary Polish filmmaker Zanussi said, “Film festivals promote high art rather than regular cinema. These festivals bring all kind cinemas globally to the local people which are not available to them.”
The films to be screened at the festival have been divided into eight categories — World Cinema, Indian Showcase, Competition section, North-East Kaleidoscope, Tribute to playwright Girish Karnad and auteur Mrinal Sen, Retrospective section of Krzysztof Zanussi and 150 years of celebrating the Mahatma.
