12th ADDA Short Film Festival concludes in Guwahati

The 12th ADDA Short Film Festival came to a glittering end at the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio recently.

The festival was inaugurated by renowned Kamrupi folk singer Dhanada Pathak and V B Pyarelal, Additional Chief Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam.

The opening ceremony began with Vakti Vandana by Bhanu Priya and screening with 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.

Renowned vocalist Pragyan Baruah and santoor exponent Pankaj Sharma enthralled audience with a jugalbandi. The souvenir of the festival was inaugurated by eminent journalist Bedabrata Mishra.

This year more than 50 films came for the competition section and jury comprised of renowned film makers Gautam Bora and Bhaskarjyoti Das along with writer Manikuntala Bhattacharya selected 20 films for the competition for fiction, documentary and animation.

This year 'The Poster' directed by Ashif Khan of Punjab and 'Songs of Marble' directed by Tiakumuzuk Aier of Nagaland won the best films honours jointly. This award was donated by Rajib Kalita in the memory of his late father Janmi Kalita. Best documentary went to 'Oh My Soul' by Kivine Shohe of Nagaland.

'Aborohan' directed by Bijan Bikash Brahma won Jury's Special Mention. This year a new award was instituted for Best Cinematography and 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. This year films came not only from India but from Abu Dhabi, Bangladesh, Italy and Nepal as well.

Gudh- India's only 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.