Guwahati: The second edition of the much-awaited Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) will commence on January 22 at Jyoti Chitraban, Guwahati, featuring as many as 26 regional, national, and international films from across 10 Asian countries over the next four days.
On January 22, the opening film of GAFF 2026 will be the Uzbekistan feature ‘Sunday’, directed by Shokir Kholikov.
Apart from this, the opening day will feature the Japanese film ‘S’ directed by Masahiro Ota in the Asian Cinema section, which will have its Indian Premiere at the festival. Along with that, ‘An Evening Ballad’ by Bishal Swargiary in the Indian Showcase (non-competition) section will be screened during the day.
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.
GAFF 2026 promises a rich and diverse showcase of Asian and Indian cinema, as the organisers curate selections from over 200 film submissions, including 90 entries from outside India.
“The overwhelming love we received from film lovers during our first edition inspired us to plan an even grander second edition. GAFF 2026 promises to be bigger and better, continuing its celebration of the rich diversity of Asian cinema, with more filmmakers from outside the region joining the event,” said Monita Borgohain, Honorary Festival Director of GAFF.
Over the next four days, GAFF 2026 will showcase films from 10 Asian countries, including Vietnam, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, Iran, Kazakhstan, and China. Alongside international selections, the festival will also present films from across India, with screenings in multiple languages such as Marathi, Bajjika, Malayalam, Hindi, Tulu, Nepali, Assamese, Karbi, Bodo, Mishing, Manipuri, and Bengali, highlighting the linguistic diversity of the region and the country.
In addition to film screenings, GAFF 2026 will feature a series of masterclasses, panel discussions, and interactive sessions led by filmmakers, critics, and industry professionals from India and other Asian countries.
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Positioned as the only Asian film festival of its kind in this part of the country, GAFF has carved a unique space in India’s cultural landscape by bringing Asian cinema to the Northeast. The festival stands out for its focused Asian identity and its commitment to building a sustained platform for cross-border cultural exchange through cinema.
