9th Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF) showcased over 30 short features and documentaries at Jyoti Chitraban premise in Guwahati on 29 and 30 November 2025 where ideas like ‘patriotism in varied perspectives’, ‘searching for a peaceful home along with warmest ones’, ‘scary loneliness of old ages while silently finding reasons to live and also gracefully depart the world’, ‘redefining the meaning of death’, ‘fraud & greed mesmerizing the modern lives’, ‘an environment supporting the human race’, ‘socio-cultural heritages of Bharat enriched with thousands of years of legacy’ and many other striving issues came to the limelight. Organized by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra-Assam, with an aim to encourage the budding filmmakers in engaging the medium for social changes across the sub-continent, the CNFF-25 screened the entries in both competitive and only screening categories, where Koli was adjudged as the best short film in north-eastern section, and Joba got the award for best short feature in the rest of India category.
Directed by Jyotirmoy Mazumdar, Koli depicts a common but interesting story, where a fifth grade student used to tell the parents incorrectly about his examination marks which irked his younger brother, who finally taught him a cute lesson amidst the parents’ affectionate reactions. On the other hand, Indira Sanjay Baikerikar’s Joba emerged as a heartfelt tribute to a father by his beloved daughter, where a collection of memories brings alive an individual who almost lost himself in the journey of life. Best documentary award was conferred on The String Master, where director Biswajit Das tries to depict a losing battle for a senior artisan. The best director’s award went to Bismita Borah for her short feature Who Will Call Out Father Father, where she projected a rural lady, who is looking for her married daughter. Expectation team comprising Ramjyoti Krincharan, Ajijul Islam, and Elvachisa Sangma received best cinematography award, where the directors (Elvachisa Ch Sangma and Dipankar Das) tried describing struggles of a married male, who came to his wife’s house following the matriarchal tradition in Meghalaya. Best editing award went to Samujjal Kashyap for Muga, which paints a determined young weaver based in Assam’s silk village named Sualkuchi. Irungbam Manisana for The Silent Performer, received the best screenplay award, where the director Dr H Rakesh portrays an artiste, performing with no such recognition. The jury board consisting of veteran writer-filmmaker Vijayakrishnan, national award winning director Maipaksana Haorongbam, and sound designer Debajit Gayan made a special mention to Just Breath, directed by Shreyas S Gautam. Aham Bharatam, directed by Bharat Bala, which projects India’s growth based on a strong foundation of culture enriched by its thousands years of history, ancient languages, arts and oral traditions, was shown as the opening film of the festival and The First Film, directed by Piyush Thakur, narrating a brief story based in orthodox India of Sixties involving a young girl, obsessed with cinema, and a voiceless teenage boy, was screened as the closing one. The unique film-fest with the central theme Our Heritage Our Pride received nearly hundred entries, out of which the preview committee comprising filmmaker Bibhu Dutta, award winning director Jhulan Krishna Mahanta, and cinematographer Hiten Thakuria selected the package for screening. It was inaugurated by RSS pracharak Dr Sunil Mohanty by lighting sacred lamps in front of Bharat Mata’s portrait, along with Assamese cultural icons 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 film critic Aparajita Pujari, where popular Assamese actors Jatin Bora and Kapil Bora along with multifaceted performers Poonam Gurung and Kamal Lochan participated, drew attention of young filmmakers. Gracing the CNFF-25 closing function, Assam legislative assembly speaker Biswajit Daimary appreciated the move to encourage the short duration filmmakers with a gorgeous platform. THE WRITER IS A GUWAHATIBASED SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATESMAN