US debut for Assam film

Guwahati: Xhoixobote Dhemalite, a film which portrays the violence and social disturbance of the 1980s Assam through a child's eyes, will be the first Assamese film to be commercially released in the US.

The film, directed by Bidyut Kotoky, will release in Assam on Friday. Kotoky said on Tuesday that discussions with a distribution agency in the US were ongoing and the film will release there this month. According to reports, distribution company Media Konnect is planning to release the film in select US theatres through its cinema chain Cine Grand.

"After a few days, we will be able to officially announce the release date in the US along with the number of theatres. In Assam, it will release on January 19. But the number of theatres has not been confirmed yet. We will try to cover the whole state," Kotoky said.

Explaining the plot, the director said, "It may be called a semi-autobiographical film. During the 80s, the situation in Assam was very tense. Lots 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. I am grateful for the appreciation it has received across the globe."

Xhoixobote Dhemalite (Rainbow Fields) won the best foreign film award at Hollywood Cinefest last year and had its world premiere under the Indian Panorama section at International Film Festival of India in Goa in November.

It has been also selected for the 11th International Children's Film Festival in Bangladesh on January 27 and the Winter Film Awards in New York from February 22.