By Nava Thakuria*
100 Films Light Up Chalachitram Fest; Showcase Northeast Cinema
Guwahati: In the city, where the Brahmaputra flows as a quiet muse, the 9th Chalachitram National Film Festival 2025 (CNFF-25) is gearing up to weave a vibrant tapestry of India’s heritage. From the lush hills of Northeast India to the far corners of the nation, filmmakers are converging to tell stories that pulse with the spirit of India’s ancient civilisation, culture, and pride.
Set for October 25 and 26, 2025, at the Jyoti Chitraban film studio in Kahilipara, this two-day cinematic celebration has already drawn nearly 100 film submissions by August 15, with a few more expected by September 20.
Organised by Chalachitram, a wing of Vishwa Samvad Kendra Assam, CNFF-25 carries the theme “Our Heritage, Our Pride.” It’s more than a festival—it’s a movement to honour India’s soul through the lens of cinema. Short features and documentaries, crafted between November 1, 2024, and September 15, 2025, and capped at 25 minutes, pour in through FilmFreeway and other channels. These films, whether competing in the Northeast-exclusive category or showcased in the national screening section, paint a vivid picture of India’s diversity—tales of indigenous tribes, freedom fighters, ancient epics, wood carvings, yoga, Ayurveda, and the quiet power of women breaking barriers.
Bhagwat Pritam Dutta, the festival’s secretary, speaks with quiet enthusiasm about the high-powered review committee and jury board ready to sift through these cinematic gems. The stakes are high: awards await for Best Short Feature, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing in the Northeast category, with top honours for Best Short Feature and Documentary in the national section. Trophies, certificates, and cash prizes will crown the winners, but the real reward lies in the storytelling itself.
Kishor Shivam, secretary of VSK Assam, notes the kaleidoscope of themes in this year’s entries. Filmmakers have spun narratives around India’s heritage—its monuments, manuscripts, and museums; its indigenous festivals and traditional sports; its artisans carving history into wood and its ethnic communities breathing life into age-old traditions. There are stories of national unity, human rights, and the untapped allure of India’s tourism potential, each frames a tribute to a civilisation that has thrived for millennia.
As CNFF-25 approaches, the Jyoti Chitraban studio prepares to become a sanctuary for filmmakers, cinephiles, and everyday dreamers. It’s a space where serious artists and curious audiences will meet, where the flicker of a projector will illuminate India’s past and present. In a world that often rushes forward, this festival pauses to remind us: our heritage is not just our pride—it’s our story, told one frame at a time.
*Senior journalist
