State Film Awards

        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


 

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