Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation Ltd.

Activities

State Film Award Presentation, 2005

The annual State Film Award was announced way back in 1997 as a part of the State Film policy . But after the first year , the award presentation function could not take place during last six years due to some unavoidable circumstances . This time , the ASFFDC , in collaboration with the State Cultural Affairs Directorate , presented the State Film Awards for last six years in a most befitting manner . Two panels of the jury for both the features and non feature categories were formed with noted Manipuri filmmaker and one of the most talented film personalities of Assam , Sri Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee as chairmen respectively . The grand , colorful award presentation ceremony was hel at Pragjyoti Cultural Complex in Guwahati on April 12 , 2005 and the occasion was graced by noted film personalities and legendary actor , Sunil Dutta , Hon’ble Chief Minister , Assam , Sri Tarun Gogoi and the Hon’ble Cultural Affairs Minister , Dr Hemo Prava Saikia , as distinguished guests. Besides presenting awards to the films produced during each of the last six years , 23 categories of awards were also conferred on various films and concerned individuals covering the period from 1989 -99 to 2003-04 . In documentary section , two films were awarded whereas the panel of jury found no film suitable for awards in short feature category . Moreover , one feature film of the ethno –linguistic communities living in Assam but the language being other than Assamese was also awarded . Besides these , the jury’s suggestion to present certificate of special mention to one Karbi and Sadri films was also honored . over and above , the State Film Award ceremony turned to be a big boost to the film fraternity of this tiny film producing state .

FilmFest –’05 :

The ASFFDC strongly feels that the local film fraternity and the common masses should be exposed to the high aesthetic taste of world cinema and Indian film scenario . FILMFEST –’05 – a festival of international films and Indian Select – was the outcome of that particular point of view . The ASFFDC – organized week long festival was held at Anuradha Cinema , Guwahati , from May 6 to May 12 , 2005 , under the aegis of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting , Govt. of India and in collaboration with Assam Cine Art Society . Inaugurated by noted film personality Amol Palekar in the august presence of the Chief guest and guest of honour of the function , Hon’ble Chief Minister , Assam sri Tarun Gogoi and Hon’ble Cultural Affairs Minister , Dr hemo Prabha Saikia , respectively , the festival was indeed a mind –blowing showcase of 14 – outstanding foreign films ( three Chinese , four French , three Iranian , three Hungarian and one Canadian ) and six significant Indian films (three Hindi , and one each in Malayalam and Tamil) . The Iranian package was comprised of a brilliant cinematic piece by internationally –acclaimed director Abbas Kiarostami ( Where’s My friend Home ) and there was film (Taking Sides) in the Hungarian package by none other than Istvan Szabo , one of the most admired film personalities of Europe and contemporary world of cinema , in the Hungarian package . The package , Indian select was a perfect reflection of the contemporary Indian film scenario . The package presented films by Shyam Benegal (Samar) , Amol Palekar (Anaahat , the inaugural film of the festival and kairee ) , and Mani Rathnam (the three National Award ) winning Kannathil Mutthamittal ) .

One thing should be noted down here is that both the shows and the film screening schedule earned wide acclamation from different sections of the common film – lovers and the media . At least , the presence of the over 80,000 people during this week long festival clearly depict so . The ASFFDC also ensured the presence of school children in some of the shows of the festival . for example , over hundred of school children was allowed free entry to the screening of the Abbas Kiarostami’s where’s My Friend’s Home .

The FILMFEST –‘05 also saw a national seminar on the topic , “Coping with Competition : Regional Cinema ” , taking place on the May 6 at Vivekananda Kendra Auditorium , Guwahati , as a part of the festival . Noted cultural personality , Sri Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee , was the moderator of the seminar which was attended by a host of dignitaries who presented their papers dealing with various issues related to the main topic . The speakers and the issues dealt with were : Noted film personality , Sri Aribam Syam Sharma (How far the regional cinema in India has succeeded in proper projection of regional problems) , Sri U. Radhakrishnan , secretary , Federation of Film Societies of India , North Zone (Significance of regional cinema in India ) , Sri Amarendra sahoo , Senior Reserve Bank of India official (Bank finance for regional cinema in India : Prospects and Possibilities) , Sri Utpal Borpujari , National Award winning film critic ( Regional cinema and the role of media ) , Dr. Santwana Bordoloi (Regional cinema and Global Audience ) , Sri Bani Das , Producer –director of Assamese film ( Technological constraint faced by regional cinema ), Sri Chinmoy Sarma , Prominent film distributor (Districution network of regional cinema : From an exhibitor point of View ) , Amol Palekar (Agony and Ecstasy : My experience of working with regional cinema ) . The seminar , attended by over hundred of film –enthusiasts and media persons , begin with the welcome speech by Commissioner –Secretary , Deptt of Culture , Sri M. K. Barooah and ended with the moderator’s comment by Sri Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjeee

Assamese Film Festival at New Delhi in 2006

Click here to View Photographs

The ASFFDC , with a view to provide the rich film scenario of Assamese cinema an exposure , has been initiating some schemes to hold festival of Assamese films in some the major cultural centers of the country . This time under the dynamic leadership of its Chairperson , Ms Bobbeeta sharma , the ASFFDC is organizing a three day festival of Award winning Assam films at Siri Fort Auditorium –II , new delhi , in collaboration with the directorate of Film Festivals , under the aegis of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting , Govt. of India . The theme of this festival is ‘ Role of Cinema in Social Awakening ‘ . The festival will begin with distinguished film maker Dr. Bhabendra Nath Saikia’s last creation Kalsandhya . Other six films to be screened at the festival are :

Jahnu Barua’s Firingoti (1991)
Jwangdao Bodosa’s Hagramayo Zinahary (1995 )
Dr. Santwana Bardoloi’s Adajya (1996)
Sanjiv Hazorika ‘s Matsyagandha (2001)
Sanjib Sabhapandit’s Juye Poora Xoon (2004)
Manju Borah’s Laaz (2004)

The said festival of Assamese films in New delhi is the beginning of the ASFFDC mission to project the brilliant pieces of films from assam in different cultural centers of the country .and therefore ,the success of the ensuing festival will be obviously be a great inspiring force for the entire team of ASFFDC as well as for the film fraternity and the people of Assam .

Assamese Film Festival at Kolkata 2007

Click here to View Photographs

ASFFDC organized “Assamese Film Festival with special Focus on Bodo Cinema” at Kolkata in May,2007.Hon’ble Chief Minister ,Assam and Ms Sharmila Tagore were the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively. The festival was a big success and drew huge crowd .

MPCC “Jonakee”

Click here to View Photographs

For the past 30 years ,ASFFDC was functioning from a small office in the premises of Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio at Kahilipara without any land of its own. But due to the initiative of the Chirperson,Ms Bobbeeta Sharma ,the State Govt. allotted a plot of land at Panjabari where a Multi Purpose Cultural Complex cum office named “JONAKEE” is being set up. The Cultural Complex will have a Film Archive, Film Museum, Film Library, Conference Hall, a Children Activity area, Souvenir shop ,Film Café and a Mini Cinema Hall. The construction of MPCC project is being taken up in a phase wise manner subject to availability of fund. The Conference Hall ,Film Archive and the Office is completed . The office of the ASFFDC was shifted from Kahilipara and started functioning from its own land from March 2008.

Dhaka International Film Festival,2008

Film Appreciation Course at Guwahati, 2008

Click here to View Photographs

A number of interested students enrolled themselves for the week-long Film Appreciation Course organized by Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation in collaboration with National film & Television Institute ,Pune.

Guwahati International film Festival, 2008

Click here to View Photographs

A film festival of short, documentary ,and animation films was successfully held in collaboration with Films Division,Mumbai The package included 14 selected Award Winning Films of M.I.F.F. and other best Films Division Documentary films.

Northeast Film Fest, 2009

Click here to View Photographs

The North East Film Festival was held from January 2 to 4 .2009, in collaboration with North East Zone Cultural Centre, (NEZCC) Dimapur, its was an event in which a total of 34 films from the seven north –eastern status was screened. The package included Documentaries ,Short Feature Films , and Full length -feature films from the Northeast.

Platinum Jubilee Celebration of Assamese Films at IFFI,Goa ,2009

Click here to View Photographs

The Ministry of I& B ,Government of India organized a special show for celebration of 75 years of Assamese cinema at the International Film Festival of India, Goa from 23 Nov 2009 to 03 December,2009 by screening “JOYMOTI” as the Inaugural Film in a separate function .Film Actor,Om Puri inaugurated the programme as the Chief Guest .Veteran Actress ,Gyanda Kakoti and Bidya Rao were felicitated at a public function at Goa with great honour and fanfare.

Digital Film Workshop ,Guwahati,2009

Click here to View Photographs

A two day workshop on digital film making was held at the ASFFDC’s Conference hall in September, 2009 .Resource persons like Jahnu Barua , Adinath Das, Dean ,SRFTI,Kolkata ,Shyamal Karmakar,Senior Faculty ,SRFTI , and noted cameraman of Slumdog Millionaire fame , G.Monic Kumar, were invited as Guest Speakers .

State Film Award Presentation ,2010
ASFFDC in collaboration with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Assam, presented the State Film Award on March 10,2010 at a glittering cultural programme at Rabindra Bhawan.

Students Film Festival ,2010

Click here to View Photographs

ASFFDC in collaboration with FTII,Pune organized a film festival on 8th & 9th October,2010 at Sankardev Kalakshetra showcasing the short films produced by the students from FTII ,Pune

Children’s Film Workshop , 2010
The 2 -day Children’s Film workshop was jointly hosted by ASFFDC and Children’s Film Society of India on 27th and 28th October,2010.Film Directors from Mumbai and Kolkata attended the Workshop as Resource persons .The two day workshop at Sankardev Kalakshetra was attended by large number of school children .A certificate of participation was distributed to all the children by Chairperson of Children Film Society of India.
Inauguration of Film Archive,2011

Click here to View Photographs

With an effort to preserve the precious films , ASFFDC decided to have the State’s first and only Film Archive for preservation of film prints in a scientific manner in the line of National Film Archive,Pune.The Archive was inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister ,Assam, Sri Tarun Gogoi on February 12,2011.

Collection of old items for Film Museum & Film Archive
ASFFDC in its effort to set up the Film Museum & Film Archive, has started the process of collection of old items related to the film industry. Altogether 60 numbers of old Assamese film prints ,90 film posters, still photographs, booklets, old gramophone record etc. have been collected for the Film Archive and Film museum.

Artist Welfare Fund
The ASFFDC received an amount of rupees 100 Lakhs as corpus fund for the welfare of the artistes in the State. The declaration of the welfare fund was done by Honorable Chief Minister of Assam ,Sri Tarun Gogoi ,during the Shilpi award function on January 17, 2010. The main objective of the Fund is to help the artistes who are in financial distress for treatment in case of accident or for serious illness. The person might need help due to some serious illness or in case of major accidents. An artiste would mean a person who with his creativity and sensibility has made substantial contribution or made a mark in the field of art and culture of the state. This would include cine artistes, performing artists, artistes working in the audio-visual medium, technicians, craftsmen etc. ASFFDC has already begun offering help to artistes in need under the welfare fund. The first recipient of grant from this fund is late Bikram Hazarika who was granted an amount of Rs 20,000 in May 2011, while he was in a serious state of health.

Upcoming activities

Film Museum
With a quest to preserve the rich history of Assamese culture and tradition for the future generation to see and learn through ,a Film Museum is set up at its office cum Cultural complex “JONAKEE” at Panjabari, Guwahati .The museum will not only comprise of photo gallery but will also project the history of Assamese films as part of its daily activity. The Museum is expected to be complete during this year.
ASSFDC's own Production : Feature Film "Baandhon"
Hon'ble Chief Minister of Assam, Sri Tarun Gogoi on December 11, 2011 performed the Mahurat rituals for the Assamese Feature Film "Baandhon" at 'Jonakee' complex under Assam State Film (Finance & Dev) Corpoation Ltd, Panjabari, Guwahati. The Film is being directed by eminent filmmaker Jahnu Baruah and produced by Assam State Film (Finance & Dev) Corporation (ASFFDC). Also present on the occassion was Minister for Cultural Affairs, Assam Smt. Pranatee Phukan, Chairperson ASSFDC Ltd. Smt Bobbeeta Sharma, Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Sri Shantanu Thakur, IAS , filmmaker Sri Jahnu Baruah, MD,ASFFDC Ltd. Smt. Nazreen Ahmed, noted film pesonalities Sri gautam Baruah, Sri Nipon Goswami, Sri Brojen Bora, Sri Pranjal Saikia and other dignitaries.

The film is ASFFDC's yet another effort to Assamese film industry and quality cinema in the state. ASFFDC has undertaken projects for in-house production as well as for co-production of films by starting off with Jahnu Baruah's "Baandhon". ASFFDC embarked on the project for production of films after a gap of nearly 11 years with its first film being "Nishidha Nadi" produced in the year 2000. It is also noteworthy to mention that eminent film maker Sri Jahnu Baruah will be directing Assamese film after a gap of 8 years with 'Tora' (2003) being the last Assamese film.

The cast of "Baandhon" includes some leading names fom the Assamese film industry like Bishnu Khargoria, Bina Patangia, Jatin Bora, Zarifa Wahid, Angshuman Bhuyan, Abatosh Bhuyan, and others.