The 2nd Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) is set to kick off with the screening of the Uzbek film ‘Sunday’, directed by Shokir Kholikov. Scheduled for January 22-25, the festival aims to showcase a diverse range of films from across Asia.
Organisers announced the exciting lineup at a press conference, confirming that the festival will take place at Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio. Festival Director Monita Borgohain highlighted ‘Sunday’ as the opening film, while the closing film will be the Iranian feature ‘In the Land of Brothers’, directed by Alireza Ghasemi and Raha Amirfazli.
Notable figures in the film industry will be present, including legendary Indian filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli as Chief Guest. Additionally, Bollywood and Marathi actress Sonali Kulkarni will attend as the Special Invitee Guest for the closing ceremony, enhancing the festival’s profile.
GAFF 2026 promises an impressive lineup of films from ten Asian countries, including Vietnam, Mongolia, South Korea, and Japan. In addition to international screenings, the festival will feature films in various Indian languages, reflecting the country’s rich linguistic diversity. This includes languages such as Marathi, Malayalam, Hindi, and Assamese, among others.
The festival’s four-day schedule will feature a total of 26 films, including eight competition entries. Alongside the film screenings, GAFF 2026 will offer masterclasses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions led by industry professionals from both India and other Asian countries.
Positioned as a unique platform for Asian cinema in the Northeast, GAFF has garnered significant attention and support. The success of the inaugural event inspired organisers to elevate this year’s festival, promising a grander celebration of Asian cinematic offerings.
Borgohain mentioned that over 200 film submissions were received for the festival, including a notable number of entries from outside India. GAFF 2026 is being organised by Trending Now Media in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
The festival’s Advisory Board includes distinguished members from the film community, such as renowned critic Srinivasa Santhanam and National Award-winning filmmaker Manju Borah, demonstrating a strong backing from industry veterans. GAFF 2026 aims not only to entertain but also to engage and connect filmmakers and audiences across Asia.