A two-day National Webinar on “Technology, Creativity and Youth Culture in Contemporary Cinema” was organized by the J. B. College Film Society in collaboration with the Department of English, J.B. College and the Assam Film Society, on 30 and 31 May, 2025. Dr. Utpal Jyoti Mahanta, Principal, J.B. College (Autonomous), inaugurated the event and delivered the Welcome Address, while Dr. Nandini Choudhury Bora, Head of the Department of English, also spoke a few words on the occasion, Dr. Manas K Ghosh, Assistant Professor, Department of Film Studies, Jadavpur University, delivered the Key Note Address. He referred to the transition of cinema from the analog to the digital age as a paradigm shift that has shaped the contours of contemporary cinema, enabling and empowering filmmakers and viewers alike. He emphasized the heightened sensitivity of contemporary filmmakers to the ubiquitous presence visual screens and images, which he suggested, could account for the increasing selfreflexivity in global cinema. He also focused on the emergence and popularity of new genres such as the Korean Film and TV series. Dr. Ghosh was introduced to the participants by Dr Deepanjali Baruah, Coordinator of the J.B College Film Society.
Dr Pranjal Borah, award-winning film critic and Associate Professor, Dikhowmukh College, was the Resource Person for the first technical session, which was anchored by Sadiqur Rahman and Dr. Mushrifa Ibrahim, joint coordinators of the webinar. The second technical session on 31 May was anchored by Dr Deepanjali Baruah and Sadiqur Rahman. The two Resource Persons for the second session were Dr. Surajit Sharma, and Dr Jayanta Madhab Dutta, Vice President and General Secretary, respectively, of the Assam Film Society. Scholars and researchers from the universities of Exeter, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, besides BHU and J.B. College, discussed a diverse range of topics, including the films Pedro Almadovar and Imtiaz Ali, neo noir, ecology, gay characters, feminism and representation in contemporary cinema.
Dr Harbamon Rongpi and Ms. Priyanka Bharali thanked everyone involved in the Webinar, making a special mention of Shri Premendra Majumdar, Vice President Federation of Film Societies of India and General Secretary, FIPRESCI for his invaluable help in the endeavour.
