Sri Vijaya Puram, May 23: The first edition of the month-long ‘Weekend Film Festival – Chalchitra Andaman Nicobar Film Festival 2026’ commenced in Sri Vijaya Puram on Thursday evening, with the Andaman & Nicobar Administration positioning the initiative as an effort to promote cinema appreciation, filmmaking culture and cinematic tourism in the Islands.
The film festival, being organised by the Directorate of Information, Publicity & Tourism in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation, began at the Anthropological Auditorium in Sri Vijaya Puram in the presence of senior officials, filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts.
Chief Secretary Dr Chandra Bhushan Kumar inaugurated the festival as chief guest in the presence of Commissioner-cum-Secretary, IP&T, Chanchal Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman Purva Garg, Mumbai-based filmmakers Shivangi Singh and Rahul Kale, along with officers of the Administration and members of the public.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Secretary said the initiative aimed at creating a vibrant atmosphere for cinema lovers in the Islands while encouraging appreciation for meaningful storytelling and films among audiences.
He said the Administration was also planning to organise filmmaking workshops in collaboration with the Film and Television Institute of India as part of efforts to strengthen the film culture ecosystem in the Islands.
Highlighting the broader objective behind the initiative, the Chief Secretary said the Administration intended to make the festival a regular feature in the Islands. He also noted that the natural landscape and scenic beauty of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands offered significant potential for filmmaking activities and deserved greater representation in Indian cinema.
He further observed that the Islands have audiences receptive to films in multiple languages and said films from different linguistic backgrounds would be screened every Friday and Saturday till June 21 as part of the festival schedule.
The festival includes screenings of acclaimed and award-winning films along with interactive sessions and workshops intended to nurture interest in cinema and filmmaking among local youth and audiences.
Padma Shri awardee and Board Member of the Central Board of Film Certification, Naresh Chander Lall, who spoke during the inaugural event, said the Andaman & Nicobar Islands possess strong potential for film-related activities and cinematic tourism.
He congratulated the Administration for promoting literature, art, tourism and cinema in the Islands and urged authorities to develop dedicated shooting infrastructure and equipment support systems to attract filmmakers from different parts of the country.
Earlier, Director of IP&T Vinayak Chamadia said the event was not merely intended as an entertainment platform but as an initiative to use cinema as a medium for expression, ideation and creativity.
He said the festival sought to generate discussions around filmmaking while simultaneously highlighting the Islands’ geography, heritage and geo-heritage as attractive destinations for film shoots.
Chamadia also informed that the existing film shooting policy was being revamped to strengthen the filmmaking ecosystem in the Islands and encourage more productions in the region. He acknowledged the support extended by the National Film Development Corporation in organising the festival screenings.
As part of the opening day programme, the 1983 Hindi satirical black comedy film Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro was screened at the auditorium.
The Administration also announced the screening schedule for Friday, which includes Salaam Bombay! at 11 am and RRR at 5 pm.
In addition to film screenings, the festival will also host a series of free short filmmaking workshops prior to movie screenings.
On May 23, filmmaker Samhita Veda Acharya will conduct a session on guerrilla filmmaking, directing basics, cinematography techniques, visual narrative methods and camera composition. The workshop will include practical demonstrations, interactive sessions and film clip analysis.
Further sessions scheduled on May 29 and May 30 will be conducted by Mumbai-based filmmakers Shivangi Singh and Rahul Kale, focusing on cinema, visual storytelling, film grammar, film observation and film appreciation exercises.
Officials said the festival was designed not only to provide audiences with access to notable cinema but also to create awareness and engagement around filmmaking as a creative and professional field in the Islands.
