Sri Vijaya Puram, May 30: The ongoing Chalchitra Andaman Nicobar Film Festival 2026 continued to attract filmmakers, students and cinema enthusiasts with a specialised short filmmaking workshop and screenings of acclaimed Indian films, offering participants direct exposure to the craft of filmmaking and cinematic storytelling.
Held at the Anthropological Auditorium in Sri Vijaya Puram, the workshop formed part of the festival’s efforts to promote film appreciation, creative learning and engagement with the film industry. The session brought together aspiring filmmakers, students and cinema enthusiasts seeking practical insights into scriptwriting, direction, production and film marketing.
Filmmaker and script writer Shivangi Singh led a session focusing on screenplay development and storytelling techniques. Addressing participants, she highlighted the role of scriptwriting in shaping successful films and explained the process of building characters, structuring narratives and creating emotionally engaging stories. She also encouraged aspiring writers to draw inspiration from real-life experiences and observations of society.
Film director Rahul Kale conducted a session on film production, direction and marketing, offering participants an overview of the challenges involved in translating a written script into a visual medium. He emphasized the importance of teamwork, creativity and technical proficiency in the filmmaking process. The session also covered strategies related to film promotion, audience engagement and emerging trends across digital platforms and cinema marketing.
According to organisers, the workshop highlighted growing opportunities in the film industry, including independent filmmaking and technology-driven content creation. The interaction provided participants with a broader understanding of contemporary filmmaking practices while encouraging young talent to explore careers in cinema and related creative fields.
The workshop is scheduled to continue with another session on May 30 from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm at the Anthropological Auditorium. Participation has been kept free of cost.
As part of the festival programme, the acclaimed Hindi film “Mirch Masala” was screened at the venue. Directed by Ketan Mehta and featuring the late Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah, the film is widely recognised for its portrayal of women’s resistance and social justice. The screening received appreciation from cinema enthusiasts attending the festival.
The Chalchitra Andaman Nicobar Film Festival 2026 is being organised by the Directorate of Information, Publicity and Tourism (IP&T), Andaman and Nicobar Administration, in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). The festival commenced on May 22 and will continue until June 21, 2026, with screenings scheduled every Friday and Saturday.
Organisers have also announced two additional film screenings at the Anthropological Auditorium on May 30. “Village Rockstars” will be screened from 11 am, followed by “Manjummel Boys” at 5.30 pm.
Registration for the screenings is being facilitated through QR codes circulated through official platforms and social media channels of the Directorate. All screenings are being offered free of cost.
The Directorate has invited students, local filmmakers, photographers, drone operators, travel vloggers, social media influencers, theatre groups, film clubs, tourists and members of the public to participate in the festival and engage with a diverse range of Indian cinema.
