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Guwahati: The 9th Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF-25) concluded on 30 November 2025 at the Jyoti Chitraban premises in Kahilipara. At the closing ceremony, distinguished guests presented awards, certificates and cash prizes to outstanding filmmakers in the presence of noted film personalities, young directors and enthusiastic cine-lovers.
Organised by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra-Assam, the two-day festival screened more than 30 short features and documentaries in both competitive and non-competitive sections.
In the awards announced, ‘Koli’, directed by Jyotirmoy Mazumder, was declared Best Short Feature (Northeast India), while ‘Joba’, directed by Indira Baikerikar, won Best Short Feature (Rest of India).
The Best Documentary Award went to ‘The String Master’ by Biswajit Das.
Bismita Borah won the Best Director Award for her short feature Who Will Call Out Father Father.
The team of ‘Expectation’—Ramjyoti Krincharan, Ajijul Islam and Elvachisa Sangma—received the Best Cinematography Award.
Samujjal Kashyap won Best Editing for Muga, while Irungbam Manisana received the Best Screenplay Award for The Silent Performer.
The jury also made a special mention of Just Breath, directed by Shreyas S Gautam.
The jury panel included renowned filmmaker, critic and writer Vijayakrishnan, National Award-winning filmmaker Maipaksana Haorongbam, and leading sound designer Debajit Gayan.
Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, attending the closing event, praised the organisers for giving a strong platform to short filmmakers. He encouraged young directors to explore India’s rich heritage and mythological narratives in their films.
Jyoti Chitraban Film Society chairman Bidyasagar Bora and CNFF-25 president Nava Thakuria also motivated filmmakers to create cinema that contributes to national pride.
The festival opened with ‘Aham Bhartam’ directed by Bharat Bala, and concluded with the screening of ‘The First Film’ by Piyush Thakur.
The central theme of CNFF-25—‘Our Heritage, Our Pride’—drew nearly 100 entries, produced between November 2024 and September 2025, with a maximum run-time of 25 minutes. A preview committee comprising veteran filmmaker Bibhu Dutta, director Jhulan Krishna Mahanta, and cinematographer Hiten Thakuria shortlisted the films for screening.
The festival was inaugurated by Dr. Sunil Mohanty, Asom Kshetra prachar pramukh of RSS, with the lighting of lamps before portraits of Bharat Mata and Assamese icons Dr Bhupen Hazarika, Zubeen Garg, and Deepak Sarma.
An outdoor discussion on film craft, audience response and performance—moderated by poet and critic Aparajita Pujari—featured actors Jatin Bora, Kapil Bora, Poonam Gurung, and Kamal Lochan, attracting young filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts.
A tribute screening of ‘Mon Jai’ in honour of Zubeen Garg and the release of the Chalachitram souvenir added to the festival’s vibrant atmosphere.
Members of the organising committee, including Kishor Shivam, Bhagawat Pritam, Riju Dutta, Sanjib Parasar, Deepak Dutta, Pranjit Deka, and Buddha Boro, expressed hope that CNFF will continue to inspire young filmmakers to use cinema as a tool for social change.
With its growing reputation, CNFF now stands alongside major national film festivals such as the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, Great Indian Film and Literature Festival, Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival, Jagran Film Festival, and many others.
