Mangaluru: To mark the 126th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the district administration will be organizing International children’s film festival from 22 November to 26 November. The festival will be inaugurated on November 22 at the Panambur Beach and the concluding ceremony will be held at the Malpe beach. This is for the first time in India an international children’s film festival is being held in 2 coastal cities simultaneously, said the President of Karnataka Film Academy S V Rajendra Singh Babu in a press meet held at the DC Office here on November 4.
He further said that it is the first time the inauguration and concluding ceremony will be held on the beach which is open to the general public. Film screening along with cultural activities are going to be held on the beaches. The Pilikula Nisargadhama, a major eco-education and tourism development project situated at Vamanjoor near Mangaluru is the hot spot for activities. CIFEJ members from Beijing, Iran, Ukraine, UK and other countries, will be present. Workshops related to film will be held by experts and CIFEJ award winning films will be screened exclusively by them. For the first time environmental and wildlife film panorama will be held, environmental films will be screened along with seminars related to the subject.
Rajendra Singh also thanked Oscar Fernandes and P V Mohan for giving an opportunity to organize the children’s film festival in Mangaluru. This year we are celebrating 125th birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Oscar Fernandes is the President of the celebration committee. Our aim is to make Mangaluru a destination for children’s film Festival. People from other states along with their children should come here to see the beauty, culture and tradition of Mangaluru.
Film Director from Bengaluru Nanjundappa Gowda said that this is the first time that such a film festival is being organized in Mangaluru. “From nine years, the international film festival was held in Bengaluru. The district administration under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim has taken special interest to organize the festival in Mangaluru. Already we have received 250 films for the competitive section and 35 for non competitive section. There will be awards for best film, best director, best child artiste, best animation, best short film, best Indian film, Jury’s choice and CIFEJ special award. Fourty countries will be taking part in the International Children’s Film Festival.
He further said that the DDPI should co-ordinate with the transportation committee to bring the children to watch the movies. The timings will be from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Films will be shown in 11 theatres and since it is an international film festival, judges from national and international levels will be present. Juries will interact with the children and know their opinion about the films and the best films will be awarded. There will be interaction with the children, seminars as well as workshops for children will be held.
Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim said that, The international children’s film festival is a concept where we are targeting children, in four days we are expecting 1,20,000 children to watch films in 11 theaters. Parents and teachers can also watch the movie along with their children. Social and educational issues will be highlighted in the films.”
District minister in-charge B Ramanath Rai, Member of Rajya Sabha Oscar Fernandes, MCC commissioner H M Gopalkrishna, deputy mayor Purushotham, P V Mohan and others were also present.