The Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI) chairperson Mukesh Khanna lamented that the making of children’s films is not given a priority in India unlike Western Countries. Mukesh Khanna spoke of the festival at the media interaction session after the inauguration of Media Centre at Prasad’s IMAX, the main venue for the 19th edition of the International Children’s Film Festival being held from November 14-20 at Hyderabad, Telangana.
Mukesh Khanna said that the film makers are shying away from making children’s films as they believe those movies are not as profitable as commercial films. He added that he would prove that making films for kids will be a profitable one. He also said films should be made for the entire family. “A film is incomplete till it reaches the audience” he remarked. He felt there was no good or bad film as is generally perceived, but a film should get rewards. He said since 1956, CFSI has made 250 films and most of the films have taken part in festivals and received accolades. Mukesh Khanna wants the Children’s film festival to be made an annual affair like the IFFI and said that CFSI would launch a Mobile App that would facilitate anyone to watch Children’s films.
ICFFI’s Festival Director and CEO of CFSI Dr. Shravan Kumar said 1200 films from 80 countries will be screened during the week-long festival. He also said 19 entries from Telugu have been received and six of them have been selected for screening. Shravan Kumar also said there is a competition section for little directors’ category in which films made by kids will be selected. He said 37 entries from seven nations made by children have come for the festival. In the last edition about 123 entries came from India. He hoped that this festival will not only give opportunity to view films from various countries but also would leave good memories to carry back home.
Dr. Shravan Kumar said that the Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Shri Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will be the Chief Guest at the inaugural function of the film festival. He said the opening film during the inauguration ceremony will be “Happy Mother’s Day”. Telangana State Minister for Cinematography Shri Talasani Srinivas Yadav will also be present.
Telangana Government Officer on Special Duty for 19th Edition International Children’s Film Festival Shri Kishen Rao said the State government has made all arrangements for successful conduct of the festival. He said films will be screened in 12 theaters in the twin cities and simultaneously children’s film screened in one theater each in all the district headquarters. Besides, Kishen Rao announced that public screening for public will be at Ravindra Bharati and during the evening hours films would be screened at Shilpa Kala Vedika. Director (Films), Min of I &B, Deepak Kumar was also present.
