A still from the Uzbek film Sunday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
GUWAHATI
The second edition of the Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) opened at Jyoti Chitraban, Guwahati, on Thursday (January 22, 2026), bringing together stories, voices, and visions from across the continent.
Over four days, GAFF 2026 will screen 26 regional, national and international films from 10 Asian countries, reaffirming its place as a unique cultural platform in northeast India. The festival opened with the Uzbekistan feature Sunday, directed by Shokir Kholikov, setting the tone for a showcase rooted in everyday human stories and diverse cinematic traditions.
The opening day also featured the Indian premiere of Japanese filmmaker Masahiro Ota’s S in the Asian Cinema section, alongside Bishal Swargiary’s An Evening Ballad, screened in the Indian Showcase (non-competition) segment.
Organised by Trending Now Media with support from the National Film Development Corporation and the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, GAFF 2026 has been curated from over 200 film submissions, including 90 entries from outside India.
“The overwhelming response to our first edition encouraged us to think bigger. This year, we have expanded the festival’s scale and reach, with more filmmakers from across Asia joining us to celebrate the diversity and depth of Asian cinema,” Monita Borgohain, GAFF’s honorary festival director, said.
Films from Vietnam, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, Iran, Kazakhstan, and China will be screened alongside a wide range of Indian productions. Indian entries span multiple languages, including Marathi, Bajjika, Malayalam, Hindi, Tulu, Nepali, Assamese, Karbi, Bodo, Mishing, Manipuri, and Bengali, underlining the linguistic and cultural richness of both the region and the country.
Beyond screenings, GAFF 2026 will host masterclasses, panel discussions and interactive sessions featuring filmmakers, critics and industry professionals from India and across Asia, offering audiences deeper insights into the art and craft of cinema.
Positioned as the only Asian film festival of its kind in this part of the country, GAFF continues to carve a distinct identity by bringing contemporary Asian cinema to the northeast. With its strong focus on cross-border storytelling and cultural exchange, the festival has steadily emerged as a meeting point for filmmakers and film lovers alike.
Published – January 22, 2026 06:01 pm IST
