The 12th edition of ADDA Short Film Festival came to a glittering end at Jyoti Chitraban film studio after two days of cinematic soiree.
More than 50 short films came for the competition section this year. Among them, the jury – comprising filmmakers Gautam Bora and Bhaskarjyoti Das along with writer Manikuntala Bhattacharya – selected 20 films for the competition for fiction, documentary and animation.
‘The Poster’ directed by Ashif Khan of Punjab and ‘Songs of Marble’ directed by Tiakumuzuk Aier of Nagaland were the joint winners of the best film. The award was donated by Rajib Kalita in the memory of his late father Janmi Kalita.
The best documentary award went to ‘Oh My Soul’ by Kivine Shohe of Nagaland. ‘Aborohan’ directed by Bijan Bikash Brahma won jury’s special mention.
To honour and encourage cinematographers, a new award was instituted this year for best cinematography which was won by Amio Ranjan Das for ‘Little Hearts’.
The awards were given away by Gautam Bora, Bhaskatjyoti Das, Rajib Kalita, Hiten Thakuria and other ADDA members.
The 12th edition of the festival saw participation from across India and also from short filmmakers based out of Abu Dhabi, Bangladesh, Italy and Nepal. Gudh, India’s entry into this year’s Cannes Film Festival, had a special screening in the festival along with ‘93 Not Out’, ‘Tezpur 1962’, ‘Kokar Kand’, ‘Little City, Blues’ etc.
The festival was inaugurated by renowned Kamrupi folk singer Dhanada Pathak and additional chief secretary, cultural affairs VB Pyarelal on December 10. The opening ceremony began with vakti vandana by Bhanu Priya and screening of Sabin Alun directed by late Altaf Mazid. ADDA paid tribute to the late director with a retrospective of his films in the festival this year.
Vocalist Pragyan Baruah and santoor exponent Pankaj Sharma enthralled audience with a jugalbandi. The souvenir of the festival was inaugurated by journalist Bedabrata Mishra.
