Bearing testament to the burgeoning talent in Assamese cinema, five films from the State have been selected for the 17th SiGNS International Film Festival, to be held at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, Kerala, in early August. The films are Kaankhowa by Hira Das, Son of the Soil by Akanshya Bhagabati, Maya by Susmita Talukdar, Pickles and Orange by Tridisha Goswami, and Ekaki by Rupam Jyoti Malakar.
The director of Kankhowa, which had won the House of Illusions award for Best Short Film by a Woman Director at Chalachitram 2023, says, “I am very happy for our film Kaankhowa’s selection in this prestigious film festival, for it’s a filmmaker’s dream to reach as wide an audience as possible.”
SiGNS, a pioneering festival in India for digital videos, is home to the prestigious John Abraham National Award. This national-level competition for documentaries and short fiction, named in memory of John Abraham, adds a layer of significance to the festival. The John Abraham Award was instituted in 1999 by the Kerala Region of the Federation of Film Societies of India in memory of John Abraham.
In 2005, the competition was extended to the national level, and the festival was renamed SiGNS. It focuses on documentary and short fiction films in video format. SiGNS has carved a niche for itself in the festival map in India and is entering its 17th edition this year. The festival is organised by the Kerala region of the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI) in association with Malayalam University.