The International Documentary and Short Film Festival of India - Guwahati 2008 was held at Don Bosco, Guwahati, on 30-31 January 2008.
The festival showcased 6 Indian short films and 38 foreign short films from 16 countries. Out of the 180 plus submissions received, two sets of jury, one in Halifax, Canada and the other in Chennai, India selected the 38 foreign films that were screened at the festival. The six Indian films were selected locally. The festival was the result of a shared passion for quality cinema shared by a host of like-minded groups. The vision that germinated first with the overseas partner of the festival - Das Management and Educational Services, Canada (DMES), found enthusiastic Indian partners in Cine Art Society, Asom (CineASA) Guwahati, Das Management and Educational Services, Canada, Don Bosco Society, Northeast India, Sampari Pictures, Tripura, and Northeastern Regional Youth Commission, Guwahati. The fill buffs of Guwahati that turned up in large numbers for the festival were exposed to some high quality short films from a variety of cultures and aesthetic traditions. The final list of selected films contained traditional works as well as those that dissented in form, technique, or content from the mainstream. Films that offered new perspectives on social and political themes as well as adventurous works that challenged and transcended expectations. Among the notable titles were: SADIE TURNS SEVEN (USA), THE NIGHT BEFORE (Argentina), and HITHERTO (Greece). Dr. Hiren Gohain, a renowned intellectual and former head of English Department, Guwahati University was the chief guest at the inaugural function of the festival. Other dignitaries present included Fr. Joseph Almeida SDB, provincial of the Salesian province of Guwahati, Fr. Joseph Thelekkatt SDB, principal of Don Bosco School Guwahati, Bobeeta Sarmah, Chairman of the State Film Finance and Development Corporation, and Chandana Sarmah , renowned Assamese actor. CineASA, one of the organizing partners was represented by Arun Sarmah, its President, Ms. Manju Borah, the working president and well known filmmaker and Bitupan Borborah, the General Secretary who was also the convener of the festival. Mr. Borborah, in his introductory words, called the festival a ``wonderful opportunity for the filmmakers of the city to see a variety of films in the short film genre from various parts of the world and also probably to put to use their learning by making quality short films.`` Fr. Almeida, the provincial, spoke about the proclivity that the salesian society had for film precisely because it proved to be a favorite medium with the youth. The Festival Officials President: Fr. Joseph Thelekkatt sdb, Principal, Don Bosco School, Guwahati Convener: Mr. Bitopan Borborah, General Secretary, Cine Art Society, Asom (CineASA) Guwahati -781024. Tel. 09435011757 Executive Director: Dr. Hari Das, (Das Management and Educational Services, Canada) Festival Director: J Pulinthanath sdb, Sampari Pictures, Tripura, Tel. 09436126649 Joint Festival Director: Johnson Parackal sdb, Northeastern Regional Youth Commission, Guwahati, Tel. 09435040126 Organizing Secretary: Nasinul Mazid, Cine Art Society Asom (CineASA), Guwahati. KOUSHIK HAZARIKA
