Guwahati: For the first time in the history of Assamese cinema, two of its children's films have been enlisted in the schedule for an international film festival.

Ishu, a film by journalist-turned-filmmaker Utpal Borpujari and Xhoixobote Dhemalite (Rainbow Fields) by Mumbai-based filmmaker Bidyut Kotoky, will feature at the 11th International Children's Film Festival in Bangladesh. The festival, organised by the Children's Film Society Bangladesh, was inaugurated on Sunday. Ishu was screened on Monday while Xhoixobote Dhemalite will be screened on February 1.

Ishu, the debut feature film of Borpujari is based on Assamese writer Monikuntala Bhattacharya's novel by the same name. The film takes a look at the inhuman practice of witchhunting that is prevalent in parts of Assam as well as in some other parts of India, through the eyes of a child whose favourite aunt is branded a "witch" by the evil village bej (quack) who conspires with another aunt to do so.

It is the first Assamese film in past decade to be produced by the Children's Film Society India (CFSI). Jahnu Barua's Tora was the last film to be produced by the CFSI in 2004.

Xhoixobote Dhemalite, the second film of Bidyut Kotoky, was released across the state this month. It is also the first Assamese film to get commercial release in the US.

The semi-autobiographical film portrays the violence and social disturbance of the 1980s Assam through a child's eyes. "During the 80s, the situation in Assam was very tense. Scores of people lost their lives and some are suffering even today. Those situations and incidents had a great impact on my mind as a child and I have tried to portray them in the film," director Kotoky said.

The film won the best foreign film award at Hollywood Cinefest last year and had its world premiere in the Indian Panorama section at International Film Festival of India in Goa in November. It has also been selected for the Winter Film Awards in New York from February 22.