Mangaluru: The office of the International Children’s Film Festival was inaugurated at the DC office premises here on October 31.
The International Children’s Film Festival office was inaugurated by the district minister in-charge, B Ramanath Rai along with other dignitaries.
The Chairman of the Karnataka Film Academy Rajendra Singh Babu said that the 10th children’s India International Children’s film festival 2015 will be inaugurated in Mangaluru and the closing ceremony will be held in Manipal on 26 November. It will be held in Mangaluru and Udupi to commemorate the 125th Birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He also said, “This is the first time that such a film festival is being organized in Mangaluru. “From many years, the international film festival was held in Bengaluru. This festival should continue in Mangaluru and we want parents from other districts to come with their children to Mangaluru and watch the films”.
He further said that Mangaluru should be a national destination for International Children’s Film Festival because Mangaluru is a city with major sight seeing places like Pilikula Nisargadhama, parks, beaches and culture. Children should come from other cities and states to watch movies along with their parents so that they can learn the traditions and culture of Mangaluru.
The inauguration will be held at the Panambur Beach at 4 pm on November 22, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has consented to inaugurate the film festival. All the major events will be held in Pilikula Nisargadhama. We have received 200 films from 35 countries. The timings will be from 9 am to 3:00 pm. Films will be shown in 9 film theatres and 3 multiplex theatres, since it is an international film festival, there will be judges from national and international levels. The juries will interact with the children and know their opinion about the films and the best films will be awarded.
Celebrities from South India, Bollywood and international film fraternity will be gracing the occasion. Cultural programmes and screening of films will be held at the Panambur BeachMangaluru and Udupi. For the first time the films will also be screened in Sullia, Belthangady, Puttur, Karkala and other taluk headquarters simultaneously. He urged the media to be ambassadors of the International children’s film festival because it is a non-profit organization committed to films for children. So far we have successfully organized the film festival in Bengaluru and this is the first time we are organizing it in Mangaluru, we need to make Mangaluru a National destination for the Children’s film festival.
President of Children’s India N R Nanjundappa speaking on the occasion said, “The international children’s film festival is a concept where we are targeting children. Parents and teachers can also watch the movies along with their children. Social and educational issues will be highlighted in the films.”
Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, ADC Kumar, MLC Ivan D’Souza, P V Mohan and others were also present.