Film society plans mega show for children

In an effort to advance education and culture through medium of films and develop among children appreciation of films for healthy entertainment, the Children’s Film Society proposes to organise 5,832 shows to cover over 25 lakh children across the country during the current year

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As many as 6,370 shows were organised covering 27 lakh children last year. In South India, it proposes to cover five states - Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, across 19 districts by March, organising over 600 shows reaching two lakh children.

In Karnataka, it will cover Bellary, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Belgaum, and Mandya districts, with an expenditure of Rs six lakh. The idea is also aimed at reaching large audiences and inculcating in them better cinema aesthetics for their wholesome development and social outlook, officials said.

The exhibition of films will be in municipal schools with the help of Nehru Yuva Kendras and other non-governmental organisations engaged in child development activities.

The Society has earmarked a budget of Rs 13 crore for the purpose during the financial year 2012-13. As part of its annual plan, it will also produce 12 feature films and two short /animation films, besides dubbing / subtitling them in major Indian languages. Of the three feature films and two shorts, two features - ‘Gopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya’, a 77-minute Hindi animation feature by Shilpa Ranade, and a 90-minute Hindi feature ‘Kaphal’ by Batul Mukthiar, have been completed. The rest will be ready by March 31. Dubbing of 14 films in 20 languages has been done.

Further, as part of its activity in exploring marketing and coproduction opportunities abroad with prospective filmmakers, the Society not only plans to take and exhibit Indian films overseas, but also participate in 15 recognised International Children’s Film Festival across the globe to create awareness among overseas participants about Children’s Film Society of India and two-way cultural exchanges.

Biennial festival

The 18th edition of biennial International Children’s Film Festival of India will take place from November 14 to 20.

Besides sections like Competition International, Competition India and Competition Little Directors where international and national films compete for the prestigious Golden Elephant Trophies, accompanied by cash awards, it will also screen specially curated non-competition sections, including Children’s World showcasing acclaimed films from the last decade and international retros, which will present the best of international children’s films to young audiences in India.

The ICFFI, also popularly known as The Golden Elephant, has striven to bring delightful and imaginative national and international children’s cinema to young audiences in India since 1979.