The organisers of the Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) on Monday announced the official film lineup for the second edition of the festival at a press conference in Guwahati. Following the success of its inaugural edition, GAFF 2026 will be held from January 22 to January 25 at Jyoti Chitraban in Guwahati. The festival is being organised by Trending Now Media with support from the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.The opening film of GAFF 2026 will be the Uzbek feature Sunday, directed by Shokir Kholikov, while the closing film will be the Iranian feature In the Land of Brothers, directed by Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli. Renowned Indian filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli will attend the festival as Chief Guest, and noted Bollywood and Marathi film actress Sonali Kulkarni will be the Special Invited Guest at the closing ceremony.
GAFF aims to celebrate the diversity of Asian cinema and has emerged as an important cultural platform that brings together filmmakers, critics, scholars, and audiences from across the region. The festival promotes cross-cultural dialogue through curated film screenings and interactive engagements.The first edition of GAFF, held in February 2025, received an encouraging response with participation from several Asian countries. The festival featured a wide range of films along with panel discussions and interactions with filmmakers and critics.Speaking at the announcement, GAFF Honorary Festival Director Monita Borgohain said that the response to the inaugural edition motivated the organisers to scale up the festival. She said GAFF 2026 would feature a broader and more diverse selection of films, with increased participation from outside India. According to her, over 200 films were submitted for this edition, including 90 entries from overseas.
The second edition of GAFF will showcase films from 10 Asian countries, including Vietnam, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, Iran, Kazakhstan, and China. In addition, films from various parts of India will be screened in multiple languages such as Marathi, Bajjika, Malayalam, Hindi, Tulu, Nepali, Assamese, Karbi, Bodo, Mishing, Manipuri, and Bengali.A total of 26 films will be screened during the four-day festival, including eight films in the competition category. The event will also feature masterclasses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions conducted by filmmakers, critics, and industry professionals, focusing on cinematic craft, storytelling, and contemporary trends in Asian cinema.
Positioned as the only Asian film festival of its kind in the region, GAFF continues to strengthen its presence in Northeast India by providing a dedicated platform for Asian cinema and fostering cultural exchange through film.
