'Make Mangaluru permanent venue for children's film fest'

Around 200 movies from more than 45 countries will be screened during the 10th Children’s India International Children’s Film Festival-2015 (CIICFF), scheduled to be in Mangaluru from November 22 to 26, said Festival Committee president S V Rajendra Singh Babu.

The festival will be held on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary celebrations of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Mangaluru and Udupi. Speaking to media persons at Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Saturday, he said that for the first time CIICFF was being held outside Bengaluru.

Discussions are going on to organise the inaugural ceremony at Panambur beach instead of renovated Town Hall on November 22 at 4 pm and the valedictory would held at Udupi on November 26. The event will be organised by Children’s India in association with Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district administrations, Nehru 125 Celebration Committee and others.

Children’s movies produced in China, Korea, Japan and other countries including Iranian wartime movies will be screened in nine theatres and three multiplexes in the city everyday from 9 am to 3 pm. Everyday thousands of children will watch the movies. More than 50 celebrities from South Indian film Industry, Bollywood and International film fraternity will participate in the event.

Babu opined that Mangaluru could be developed as children’s movie destination like Hyderabad. Film festivals should be organised every year and city should be identified at national-level. It also helps in development of tourism in the region.

“If we look into history, we lost Film and Television Institute of India (Pune), because of the delay by the government. We should not lose such opportunities again,” he said.

Children’s India president N R Nanjunde Gowda said that the CIICFF should reach more children and parents. During the fest, festival bulletin would be brought out every day, which comprises information on next day events. Seminars will also be organised. “Mangaluru suits the event as it has many tourist destinations like Pilikula Biological Park. It should be the permanent venue as Bengaluru is exhausted in every way,” he added.

Office inaugurated

Earlier, District In-Charge Minister B Ramanath Rai inaugurated the office of the CIICFF on the premises of Deputy Commissioner’s office. MLC Ivan D’Souza, DC A B Ibrahim, Additional DC Kumar were present among others.