The Act East policy of the Union government will get a boost as the second edition of Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) is set to bring ASEAN countries together at a single platform in Guwahati during the festival which starts from October 25.
More than a dozen of diplomats and film personalities are scheduled to visit the festival which has emerged as the biggest film festival in the region. The festival has a special segment called ‘Region in Focus’ which will discuss and screen ASEAN films.
The organizers believe that the people-to-people contact will help in realizing the Act East policy of the government.
At least 15 films from the ASEAN region are likely to be screened during the festival.
“This time we want to screen films from the ASEAN countries which will be the part of the region in focus. Besides, delegates from these countries will also be a part of the festival. I think it will help the ASEAN come closer to Northeast India which is the gateway to the South East Asian nations. I think it’s a great platform for the exchange of thoughts and culture,” festival director Monita Borgohain had said.
The festival, which is being organised by the Assam government-owned Jyoti Chitraban (Film Studio) Society in association with Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute (DBHRGFTA), will focus on the students of the Northeast region.
“We have a sizeable number of diplomats and also cast and crew members of several films which will be screened here during the festival will be in Guwahati. They will also interact with the viewers and journalists here. I think the people-to-people contact of the two regions will definitely give a boost to the Act East policy of the Central government,” Rahul Jain, artistic director of the GIFF said.
Vietnamese film Cha cõng con (Father and Son) and Cambodian film ‘In the Life of Music’ among other widely appreciated films from the region will be screened during the festival.
Jain added that the cast and crew of these films are also likely to be present during the festival.
Turkey was the country in focus during the inaugural edition of GIFF in 2017.
The festival, which will continue till October 31, will screen more than 100 films from around 50 countries.
