Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal along with Iran’s ambassador to India Gholamreza Ansari and ambassador of Czech Republic to India, Milan Hovorka during the inauguration function of First Guwahati International Film Festival 2017 at Srimanta Kalakshetra in Guwahati on Saturday .

With the talks of global friendship, the first Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) gets underway here on Saturday in the presence of ambassadors from Iran and Czech Republic and actor, producers from Czech Republic and Spain.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that through films global friendship can be made concrete.

“We are fortunate to have this international film festival here today. It’s a great learning experience for all of us. Film is the great medium through which human values can be promoted, friendship can be strengthened and peace can be brought to the human life. I’m happy to welcome you all here today,” said Sonowal addressing a gathering during the inaugural ceremony of the five-day festival.

First Guwahati International Film Festival 15 – The News Mill
Czech republic actress Sara (M) along with ambassador of Czech Republic to India, Milan Hovorka (R) and his wife in (left) during the inauguration function of First Guwahati International Film Festival 2017 at Srimanta Kalakshetra in Guwahati on Saturday.

The festival will screen more than 75 films from 35 countries. Turkey will be the country focus and five acclaimed films will be screened during the festival.

“As an important component of culture, a film is capable of reflecting values, beliefs, interests and traditions of a nation. A film can establish a fair contact of one people with other nations and thereby acts like a gate being opened towards others which imbeds the first perception and impression from one nation in another. Thus a film is an important tool in public and cultural policy,” said Iranian ambassador to India Gholamreza Ansari before the screening of Oscar winning Iranian film ‘The Salesman’.

FLIM FESTIVAL 2 – The News Mill
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal alongwith Iran’s ambassador to India Gholamreza Ansari and ambassador of Czech Republic to India, Milan Hovorka during the inauguration function of first Guwahati International Film Festival 2017 at Kalakshetra in Guwahati on Saturday.

The Salesman by Asghar Farhadi, one of the highly praised films of the recent time, was the inaugural film of the festival.

Ansari also said that he was so happy to visit the city on the occasion.

The GIFF is being organized by Jyoti Chitraban (Film Studio) Society with the support of the state government in association with Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute (DBHRGFTA).

The ambassador of Czech Republic to India, Milan Hovorka who has been visiting the city for the second time, vowed to bring more prominent actors from his country for GIFF in the next year.

Hovorka said that it was great moment for him to be present here on October 28 which marks the Independence Day of the Czech Republic.

“Cinema helps us to understand each other better. I’m committing myself to be back here next year and to bring more artists from my country,” said Hovorka.

Besides, several other prominent film personalities was also present during the inaugural session including national award winning filmmakers like Shaji N Karun, Jahnu Barua, Haobam Paban Kumar and others.

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About Abdul Gani

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Abdul Gani is a Guwahati-based journalist