Guwahati Asian Film Festival 2026: A Celebration of Asian Cinema
Guwahati Asian Film Festival Returns
Guwahati, January 5: Guwahati is increasingly establishing itself as a significant cultural hub in India, and it is poised for another moment in the cinematic limelight.
The Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) is set to return for its second edition on January 22, offering four days filled with curated Asian films, discussions, and creative exchanges.
On Monday, the festival organizers revealed the eagerly anticipated film lineup for this year's event, which will take place at Jyoti Chitraban, GKahilipara, until January 25.
The festival will kick off with the Uzbek film Sunday, directed by Shokir Kholikov, and will conclude with the Iranian film In the Land of Brothers, directed by Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli.
This year's festival will be graced by the esteemed Indian filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli as the Chief Guest, alongside Bollywood and Marathi actress Sonali Kulkarni, who will be the Special Invited Guest for the closing ceremony.
Over the course of four days, GAFF will showcase 26 films, including eight entries in competition, featuring a robust selection of international films from ten Asian nations such as Vietnam, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, Iran, Kazakhstan, and China.
In addition to international films, the festival will also highlight Indian cinema, with screenings in various languages including Marathi, Bajjika, Malayalam, Hindi, Tulu, Nepali, Assamese, Karbi, Bodo, Mishing, Manipuri, and Bengali, showcasing the region's and country's linguistic richness.
The inaugural GAFF, held in February 2025, made a significant impact on the film festival landscape, drawing enthusiastic participation from numerous Asian countries.
Monita Borgohain, the Honorary Festival Director of GAFF, expressed, “The incredible support we received from film enthusiasts during our first edition motivated us to create an even more impressive second edition. GAFF 2026 aims to be larger and more impactful, celebrating the diverse tapestry of Asian cinema, with increased participation from filmmakers beyond our region. We have received over 200 film submissions, including 90 from outside India.”
In addition to film screenings, GAFF 2026 will host a variety of masterclasses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions led by filmmakers, critics, and industry experts from India and other Asian nations.
These sessions are designed to foster a deeper understanding of cinematic techniques, storytelling traditions, and current trends in Asian filmmaking.
As the only Asian film festival of its kind in this region, GAFF has established a distinctive presence in India's cultural scene by promoting Asian cinema in the Northeast.
The festival is organized by Trending Now Media, with backing from the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.