A short film contest is organised as a part of this film festival. This is essentially to promote talent and stories from the region. The winners of this contest not only get recognition but also a chance to win prize money and opportunities to intern with the premier film production houses of the country.
History
The inaugural edition of the festival was organized in the year 2013 on 11 & 12 January at Anuradha Cineplex, Guwahati. Renowned filmmakers Dibakar banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti and Anusha Rizvi graced the festival with their presence. Critically acclaimed Bollywood movies like Shanghai, Zindagi Naa Milegi Dobara, Taalash, Peepli live were screened at the festival. A short film contest was also organized along with the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival. Romi Meitei's Kanngkhada Lin was awarded winner of the contest. Dominic Sangma's Karyukai inc. and Tarunabh Dutta's I am Not Crazy were adjusted as 1st and 2nd runner up short films respectively. The second edition of the festival was held on 19th,20 and 21 April 2014 at Pragjyoti, ITA Machkhowa, Guwahati. Nationally internationally acclaimed film personalities Farhan Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Shoojit Sircar, Rahul Bose and Adil Hussain were special guests of the film festival. Some of the movies screened at the festival in 2014 were Positive, Konikar Ramdhenu, Everybody says I'm Fine, Echoes, Keibu Keioiba, Ka Lad, Madras Cafe, Kaafiron ki Namaaz, Yarwang, and Shorts among others. Steven Ao's Bamboo Shoots won the short film contest, whereas Romi Meitei's Karfew and Tribeny Rai's Rogi Sankhya 666 Ani Aru Haru were adjusted as 1st and 2nd runner up respectively. A lifetime achievement award was also introduced since 2014 to honour and acknowledge works of film personalities from Northeast India for their exceptional contribution to the cinema in Northeast. In 2014, the award was conferred to Shri Aribam Syam Sharma is a celebrated filmmaker from Manipur, India. The third edition of the festival was organized in the year 2015 on 24, 25 and 26 April at Pragjyoti ITA Centre, Machkhowa, Guwahati. Some of the important renowned film personalities such as Rajkumar Hirani, Kunal Kapoor, Rajkumar Rao,Shimit Amin, Patralekha Paul and Amit Roy participated at the film festival apart from the filmmakers and film enthusiasts from all across Northeast. Khawnglung Run, Riders of the Mists, Crossing Bridges, Ri- Homeland of Uncertainty, Raag and Othelo were some of the highly acclaimed films from the northeast were screened at the festival. Jivitesh Mazumdar's Lotkon was the winner of Brahmaputra Valley Short Film contest 2015. Kamal Paran's Mirrage and Porag Gogoi's A River Island Tale won the 1st and 2nd runner up titles respectively. Renowned and legendary Assamese filmmaker Shri Abdul Majid was Awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2015. The fourth edition of the festival 2016 was held on 22, 23 and 24 July at Pragjyoti ITA Centre, Guwahati. The three day festival was filled with various events in the presence of the eminent film personalities like Imtiaz Ali, Prakash Jha, Ritesh Shah, Vandana Kataria and Amrit Pritam. Apart from the top 15 films from the short film contest, various films from different states of Northeast India such as Kima's Lode Beyond The Class, Out of the Blue, Eibusu Yaohanbiyu, Tezpur 1962 My Country Land, One Last Question, The Head Hunter, Doronir Nirola Poja were screened as the festival. Yesteryears Assamese actor Smt. Jnanada kakoti was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in this year. The short film contest winner for the year was Romi Meitei from Manipur for his film Colour of Water. Meghalaya's Badeimon Kharshiing & Badeap K. Lyngdoh won the 1st runner up for their film U thlen and Assam's Manas Sagra won the 2nd runner up for his film Little Hearts.
