Assam: Assamese filmmaker’s first feature film selected for Busan Film Festival

Guwahati: Assamese director Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap’s debut feature film ‘Kok Kok Kukkuk’ has been selected for the Vision Asia section of the 30th edition of the Busan International Film Festival held in South Korea. Produced by Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), the film is a magical realist horror drama. The film depicts the intense lives of migrants struggling for identity against the backdrop of a drab but picturesque city, said a press release issued on Wednesday. Known for his distinctive use of magical realism and poetic imagery, Kashyap, who was earlier known as a short filmmaker, presents an intensely personal yet universal story set in his hometown Guwahati in Assam. “This film is dedicated to the people of Assam who once celebrated diversity without hesitation. I fear times and mindsets are changing,” the director said.

He hoped that the film would become a “proof of my existence and the existence of those who struggle for their identity every day”. Kashyap, an SRFTI alumnus, developed the film as his final dissertation under the guidance of filmmaker Dominic Sangma. His short films have received widespread international acclaim, including screenings at global festivals and several awards. The film’s world premiere at Busan is a milestone for both the filmmaker and contemporary Assamese cinema, leading to its growing recognition on the global stage, the release said. The Vision Asia section at BIFF presents groundbreaking works from Korea and Asia, highlighting bold and boundary-pushing films from emerging voices that represent the future of Asian cinema. The 30th Busan International Film Festival will be held from September 17 to 26.