70 films to be screened at children's cine festival

Hyderabad, Oct 31 (IANS) Seventy films will be screened during the 16th international children's film festival to be held here from Nov 14.

Nandita Das, chairperson, Children's Film Society of India (CFSI) told a news conference here Saturday that films would be screened in three categories -- international, Asian Panaroma and children's world.

Since Unicef is celebrating the year as world child rights year, and focussing on right to entertainment as a basic right, the organisers have decided to screen 25 films under a special package of documentary and fiction during the week-long festival.

There will also be a separate package of German films to be screened during the festival. For the first time, Asian Panaroma will have separate jury and awards on par with the international section.

The Asian Panaroma has six Indian films. CFSI selected 70 films from 160 entries received from various countries including Iran, China, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, China and Sri Lanka.

Nandita Das, who took over as CFSI chairperson three months ago, said she planned to introduce separate Indian section from this year but found no quality films for the screening. 'There are very few quality films being made for children in India compared to countries like Iran and China,' she said.

The actress said the film festival would also have debates, open forums and workshops on issues related to children's movies. There will also be debates on how children are being used for television programmes including reality shows. 'We will also discuss the definition of children's films and why they are not visible in India,' she said.

'Complaining about the media onslaught and children watching television programmes and movies made for adults will not help. We will have to provide an alternative and this film festival provides a platform for the children and the adults concerned about children to come together and discuss the issues,' she added.

Das admitted that she was hesitant to become chairperson of CFSI as she feared being swarmed by idea and work at CFSI. 'At a time when children are growing up watching reality shows and mainstream films made for grown up, it is not easy to make films for children which are both entertaining and value-based,' she said.

Andhra Pradesh's minister for information, public relations and cinematography Geeta Reddy said Hyderabad was proud to be a permanent host of the children's film festival since 1995.

The films will be screened at Prasad Imax and eight other theatres in the limits of Greater Hyderabad.

Children who achieved distinction in various fields and acclaimed at state and national level would also be felicitated during the festival, which will also be attended by personalities from Hindi and Telugu film industries.