Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Dr. Bobby Sarma Baruah has joined the jury for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The Assam filmmaker will help evaluate Asian cinema at the world's oldest film event. She joins a three-member panel organized by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema, or NETPAC.
Baruah sits alongside Ed Lejano, the artistic director of the QCinema International Film Festival, and Asel Sherniyazova, co-founder of the Asian World Film Festival. She brings a deep background in filmmaking, research, and scriptwriting to the table. Her past work includes National Award-winning films like Adomya, Sonar Baran Pakhi, Mishing, and Sikaisal. Most recently, her film Rador Pakhi appeared at the 55th International Film Festival of India.
The jury will assess the cultural, cinematic, and thematic merits of entries from across the Asia-Pacific. Baruah brings extensive experience from previous jury stints at the National Film Awards, the International Film Festival of India, the Jeonju International Film Festival, the Mumbai International Film Festival, and the International Film Festival of Kerala.
"Being part of the NETPAC jury at the Venice International Film Festival is an honour and an enriching experience," Baruah said from Venice. She noted that the role allows her to engage with diverse cinematic traditions. Established in 1932, the festival remains a global hub for film professionals. This appointment shifts her focus from creator to evaluator, cementing her place in the international conversation on Asian film.
Updated at 12th September 2026 at 6:02pm
NETPAC formed in 1990 to hunt down and boost films hitting screens across Asia and the Pacific. Baruah, who holds a seat in the organization, views this assignment as a way to trade notes with international peers and push significant regional work into the spotlight.
As she works through the selection process, Baruah plans to focus on how these films reflect social realities and regional identities. She says she looks forward to exchanging perspectives and helping land recognition for essential Asian cinema.
Updated at 13th September 2026 at 1:47am
Baruah holds the title of producer in addition to her work in filmmaking and research. She serves as a member of the organization itself, a fact that complements her current duties on the three-person panel.
As she works through the entries, her evaluation hinges on the Indian Panorama section selection history for her own work. This specific classification for her latest film, Rador Pakhi, further grounds her experience at the top tier of the circuit.
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