Guwahati, March 3: Chalachitram, a nascent organisation of the state with the objective of showcasing the heritage and culture of the Northeast to national and international audience through films, is organising a two-day film festival starting tomorrow.

The event is being held in association with the directorate of film festivals and the state government's department of culture. Assam culture minister Naba Kumar Doley will inaugurate it tomorrow. The films will be screened at Rabindra Bhawan, Textile Institute and the mass communication department of Cotton College here.

Films like Veer Savarkar by Ved Rahi, Gandhi by Richard Attenborough, Waiting by Shaji N. Karun, Sardar by Ketan Mehta, Dhrupad at the time of Liberation by Arvind Sinha, Yoga: Aligning to the Source by Raja Chauhury, Unfolding the Pata Story by Supriyo Sen and Kukhal by Jahnu Baruah will be screened at the fest.

The organisation, with national award-winning filmmaker and critic Utpal Datta as its president, is of the view that films - features, documentaries, animations and short films - are the best media to promote the heritage and culture of the region.

Chalachitram had organised the Heritage Short Film competition as well, where a total of 17 films from Assam, Manipur and Maharashtra took part. The Pride of Assam, with producer, director and editor Manab Jyoti Kalita at the helm, was voted the best film while Final Amen - Sikar aur Sitkar director Ramen Borah was adjudged the best director. Final Amen also walked away with three awards (best director of photography, best sound designing and best voice over) in the technical section.

Chairperson of the jury Bijaya Jena said: "We are proud of our culture and it can be effectively portrayed through the medium of films. In India, we hardly have a platform for screening short films and this segment is neglected. I appeal to the government as well as Doordarshan to support this important medium."

Speaking to The Telegraph, organising secretary of Chalachitram, Amarjyoti Deka, said: "The short film, with a duration of less than 40 minutes, is a fairly recent development in Indian cinema. The budget does not exceed Rs 50,000, so making them is fairly easy. Our organisation aims to be a platform for such films from the region."