Guwahati, May 1 -- Hirak Jyoti Nath, a visual storyteller from Assam, has made it to the top 18 in the Animation Filmmakers Competition (AFC) at the World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025.

His short animated film, Tales From the Tea House, is inspired by the culture of Assam and captures the life and atmosphere of the state's tea gardens.

Hirak describes his film as a simple story about the old tea gardens, where people share tea and conversations. Through familiar settings and small, quiet moments, he hopes to show how such everyday scenes can deeply touch people's lives. The film uses a watercolor style and tells an emotional story.

WAVES 2025 selected 42 finalists from across India after reviewing entries for nine ...