Assam's growing cultural diplomacy with southern India takes centre stage as the state government backs the third Niri9 International Film Festival, set to unfold in Hyderabad next month with official cooperation from Telangana's governor and cultural department.

The festival, organised by Guwahati-based NIRI Media (OPC) Private Limited, has drawn 176 film submissions from across categories—40 feature films, 65 short films, 56 shorter films, and 15 documentaries. Nineteen finalists will compete during the two-day event.

Festival director Dr Junmoni Devi Khaund, recently honoured by Telangana governor Jishnu Dev Varma and cinematography minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy at the NE Connect Festival, emphasised the event's broader cultural mission beyond conventional film screenings.

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