GUWAHATI, Oct 12 - With a view to promoting film screenings in rural areas, the Government of Assam will soon launch a project to convert the community halls of Panchayat and Rural Development Department into mini cinema halls.
Minister for Cultural Affairs Bismita Gogoi today announced that the government has planned to start such projects in all the State Legislative Assembly constituencies.
Addressing the media here, she said the government would provide both financial and logistical support to such halls that would be later run in public-private partnership, retaining the character of community halls. �Currently, survey for this project is going on and it will start in January next,� she said.
The 6th edition of Assam State Film Awards Festival, 2015 was also announced today, which will be held from October 14 to 17. Eminent music director Ramen Barua will be honoured with the lifetime achievement award. The festival has 29 award categories.
Eminent film directors Kundan Shah and Anwar Hussain and actress Seema Biswas, along with State government dignitaries, will attend the inaugural function on October 14 at Anuradha cinema hall.
Widely known for his genre of comedy films, Kundan Shah will also conduct a workshop on October 15 at the Panjabari-based Jonaki Prakalpa of the Assam State Film (Finance and Development) Corporation, said Bobbeeta Sarma, chairperson of the Corporation.
�Assamese films have majority audiences in rural areas. This calls for a different approach to film screening. Our upcoming film Saat Numberor Sandhan being a tea garden-based film, will be released in Upper Assam first,� she added.
Critically acclaimed Dwaar by Bidyut Chakraborty will be the inaugural film. Sixteen films will be screened during the fest in Anuradha cinema hall, Rabindra Bhawan and Pragjyoti cinema hall, Maligaon.
