CM sits in front row as children take spotlight at film festival

Organized by Shishu Kishore Academy,this festival will run till December 27 and will showcase films from 14 different countries.

The inaugural film to be screened was ‘Stanley Ka Dabba’ by noted director Amole Gupte. “When we talk about children,it is often as if,they are a different species” said Amole Gupte. “But they are not. I have worked with children all my life and I do believe we need to integrate ourselves with their pulsating pulse. And I thank film festivals like these which do exactly that,” he added.

Some of the notable films to be screened will be Adventures of Robin Hood,20000 Leagues under the Sea,Mr Hulot’s Holiday as well as special retrospective of Tapan Sinha movies like Sabuj Diper Raja,Safed Haati,Anmol Moti,Aaj Ka Robinhood,Kabuliwala and Aajob Gnayer,Aajob Kotha.

Two workshops will be conducted,one by Amole Gupte on film making for children and one on animation by the head of the Department of Animation at National Institute of Design. There will also be an outdoor exhibition of photos accompanied by short information texts on the history of cinema to be installed at Nandan complex. The venues for film screening are Nandan,Sishir Mancha,Star Theatre,Rabindra Okakura Bhawan,SRFTI Auditorium.

“I am surprised that this is the only first such effort. We need more such efforts” said Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay,noted Bengali writer. “All of us have a little child in us. And this festival is to,along with other children,appreciate that child inside us,” quipped finance minister Amit Mitra.