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Come 29 and 30 November 2025, film lovers, cine critics, and movie producer-directors of eastern India will get a unique opportunity to experience film works dedicated to fostering nationalism and celebrating Bharat’s thousands-year-old civilization, culture, and heritage, as the 9th edition of the Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF) presents a package of around 30 selected short films.
Several entries passionately narrate stories about human life and its struggle to preserve its legacy in a sustainable environment on Earth. Many films explore the lives of young people who find it difficult to cope with constant changes in their emotional and psychological needs, leading to isolation from family and friends. After rediscovering the unconditional love of their near ones, they gather strength to continue their studies and pursue future careers with renewed responsibility and a sense of belonging.
Some entries portraying slow learners and differently-abled children may open a new world for audiences who may have little understanding of the emotional and painful moments these children and their families endure. Other selected films revolve around traditional love, now overshadowed by growing misunderstandings within families. Yet, empathy and forgiveness ultimately help resolve conflicts during moments of distress.
The loneliness of elderly professionals living in urban areas and the support they deserve from well-wishers, folk tales and songs related to marriage and rituals used to overcome emotional turmoil, the erosion of family values that affects everyone at different stages of life, and the challenges faced by underprivileged individuals in a caste-driven society as they strive for dignity—all find representation in this year’s festival.
Films based on matriarchal societies—where men traditionally leave their families after marriage and often end up isolated—also make their presence felt. Other entries explore ancient magical practices that excite young minds, the surviving traditional Assamese string puppetry, India’s thousands-year-old textile heritage now struggling against modern technology and fast-changing lifestyles, tales of malevolent spirits once widely known in rural Assam, human relationships with land, trees, and nature, and the legacy of creators whose fine works reflect life, culture, and heritage. Stories about abandoned national heritage sites across Bharat, waiting to be rediscovered for the new generation, add further depth to the festival’s offerings.
India today hosts many notable national film festivals throughout the year in a country of over 140 crore people. CNFF has been contributing to this cultural journey for nearly a decade, joining the league of festivals such as the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, Great Indian Film and Literature Festival, Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival, Alpavirama South Asian Short & Documentary Film Festival, Bangalore Queer Film Festival, Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival, Cinemela Film Festival, Flashpoint Human Rights Film Festival, Golden Jury Film Festival, Hyderabad Bengali Film Festival, Indogma Film Festival, Jagran Film Festival, Jeevika Film Festival, Kalakari Film Festival, Madhubani Film Festival, New Delhi Film Festival, National Science Film Festival, Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema, Patna Film Festival, Rajasthan Film Festival, Tigerland India Film Festival, Verite Film Festival, Vibgyor Film Festival, and many others.
Starting with a modest beginning in 2016, Chalachitram—formed to bring films closer to common people and use creative works to raise awareness of Indian culture and heritage—launched its first festival as the Guwahati Film Festival (GFF) in 2017 at Rabindra Bhawan, the Textile Institute, and the Mass Communication Department of Cotton University. In 2019, the festival was renamed CNFF.
At the GFF-2017 inauguration, then Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal remarked that “cinema reflects the philosophy of life, the reality and expectations of society, and plays an important role in transforming society.” He also recalled contributions from iconic Assamese filmmakers such as Jyotiprasad Agarwalla, Bhupen Hazarika, Bhabendra Nath Saikia, Jahnu Barua, and Manju Bora.
GFF-2018, held at the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio premises in Kahilipara, was attended by noted writer Manmohan G Vaidya, award-winning director Santwana Bardoloi, and others. Since the third edition (CNFF-2019), the festival continues to showcase creative works at the venue dedicated to the memory of Assam’s pioneer filmmaker Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwalla. Organised by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra–Assam, and mentored by Bharatiya Chitra Sadhna, the festival follows the central theme “Our Heritage, Our Pride”, inviting distinguished film personalities from across India every year.
The festival features themes such as Indian heritage, indigenous societies, freedom movement heroes, epics and mythology, national integration, arts and artisans, manuscripts and paintings, cultural nationalism, women empowerment, environment, land and people, tourism, handicrafts, woodcarving, music and musicians, traditional sports, monuments and heritage sites, social reformers, and even industries such as tea and oil.
A jury of artistes, critics, filmmakers, writers, and other professionals selects the award-winning films, which are honored with trophies, certificates, and cash prizes in the presence of renowned film personalities and cine-goers.
