10th edition of the national festival invites short films and documentaries celebrating India’s heritage, with entries open until September 2
Guwahati: The 10th edition of the Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF) will be held on October 24 and 25, 2026, at the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio in Kahilipara, Guwahati, bringing together filmmakers, critics and cinema enthusiasts from across the country.
Organised by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra (VSK) Assam, the festival will showcase short films and documentaries centred on India’s civilisational heritage, cultural traditions and national identity. Winners will receive trophies, certificates and cash prizes during the closing ceremony.
Originally launched as the Guwahati Film Festival in 2017, the event was renamed the Chalachitram National Film Festival in 2019. It continues to be organised under the theme “Our Heritage, Our Pride,” encouraging films on subjects including India’s freedom movement, indigenous communities, women empowerment, environmental conservation, traditional arts, tourism, yoga, Ayurveda and cultural heritage.
The festival is open to both established and emerging filmmakers. Eligible entries must be between one and 25 minutes long and produced between September 1, 2025, and September 1, 2026.
Awards in the North East category include Best Short Feature, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Editing, while the All India category recognises Best Short Feature and Best Documentary.
Film submissions are open in three phases. Early Bird entries until June 30 are free, Regular submissions from July 1 to July 20 carry a fee of Rs 500, while entries submitted between July 21 and September 2 require a Rs 1,000 fee. Films can be submitted through FilmFreeway or directly via email to the organisers.
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