Gauhati Cine Club Gears Up for 18th International Guwahati Film Festival, Honoring Bhupen Hazarika and Zubeen Garg
Gauhati Cine Club Gears Up for 18th International Guwahati Film Festival, Honoring Bhupen Hazarika and Zubeen Garg
Guwahati, Feb 11: Cinephiles across Assam are in for a treat as the venerable Gauhati Cine Club—established in 1965—unveils its 18th International Guwahati Film Festival, set to unfold from February 13 to 17 at the Kanaklal Baruah Auditorium, Assam State Museum, Ambari.
Spanning five days, the festival promises a global cinematic mosaic with 16 films from Germany, Russia, Portugal, Iran, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Vietnam, and Montenegro. It will also spotlight selected works in Assamese, Bangla, Bodo, Manipuri, and English, blending international flair with regional voices. Among the highlights is ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ (2024, 120 minutes), directed by Shuchi Talati, which earned rave reviews and the Best Gender Sensitive Film award at the Film Critics Guild competition.
This edition pays heartfelt tribute to two Assamese cultural giants: Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the legendary musician, filmmaker, and founding member of the club, and Zubeen Garg, the beloved icon who passed away recently. In Garg’s honor, the festival will screen ‘Dinabandhu’ (2004, 133 minutes), directed by Munin Baruah and starring the artist in a lead role.
The inaugural ceremony will feature Manipur’s internationally acclaimed filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma as Chief Guest. A special Retrospective segment will showcase three of his classics: ‘Ishanou’ (1990, 91 minutes) as the opening film, followed by ‘Imagi Ningthem’ and ‘Sanabi’.
Adding to the excitement, the world premiere of Assamese director Arup Manna’s ‘Samarpan’ takes center stage, while Assam’s Rajni Basumatary—attending as Guest of Honour—closes the festival with her 2023 film ‘Gorai Phakhri’ (95 minutes).
Organized in partnership with the Federation of Film Societies of India (Eastern Region), Kolkata, the Film Critics Guild, and participating filmmakers, the event invites broad participation. For details, contact 70020-33374 or 99542-36869, or follow updates on the official Facebook pages of Gauhati Cine Club and the International Guwahati Film Festival. Offline registration is available at the club’s Panbazar office or the GCC site at Assam State Museum.
Club President A.K. Absar Hazarika and Secretary Madhurima Barua called on all cine lovers, including life, general, and student members, to join forces for a resounding success.