GUWAHATI, Jan 19 - The first edition of Guwahati International Children Film Festival kicked off at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra here today. The three-day festival is being organised by Jyoti Chitraban in association with Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute with support from the Government of Assam.
During the festival � the first ever festival of its kind in this region � altogether 49 films from 23 countries, including 22 films in world cinema category, 11 in Indian panorama section, seven films in country in focus category, three in regional films section and five films in animation section will be screened.
In its first edition, the organisers have chosen Turkey as the country in focus. Films to be screened in this category are, A Ferry Tale directed by Mehmet Tigli, Human directed by Hasan Ince, My Short Words directed by Bekir Bulbul, Next Year directed by Hasan Gunduz, Renki-Discoverer of New Worlds directed by Burhan Gun, The Lunch Break directed by Ozan Yoleri and The Scarecrow directed by Osman Cakir and Abdulkadir Hasanoglu.
Films enlisted in the world cinema section are 2nd Class directed by Jimmy Olsson and Ahmed and Markus directed by Maria Eriksson-Hetcht from Sweden, BaDaBoo-The Boat Trip directed by Glenn D�Hondt and Karim Rhellam from Belgium, Berries Island directed by Khaled Mansour from Egypt, Chol Jai directed by Masuma Rahman Tani from Bangladesh, Edhel directed by Marco Renda from Italy, Elvis Walks Home directed by Fatmir Koci from Albania, Grandmother directed by Roza Kolchagova from Bulgaria, Hog�s Dice directed by Deng Bochao from China, I And Friday directed by Hossein Ameri from Iran, Irinyi directed by Nikol Cibulya from Hungary, Our Ethiopia directed by Getachew Yezengaw from Ethiopia, Pettson and Findus directed by Ali Samandi Ahadi from Germany, Qadam Kheyr directed by Masud Farkhondeh from Iran, Sacrifice directed by Rizgar Husen from Iraq, Stella 1 directed by Gaia Bonsignore and Roberto D�lppolito from Italy, The First Day of April directed by Shauly Melamed from Israel, The Last Day of School directed by Satria Setya Adhi Wibawa from Indonesia, The Social Paradox directed by Rudroneel Ahmed from Bangladesh, Viacruxis directed by Ignasi Lopez Fabregas from Spain, War directed by Pierre-Marc Tremblay Grandbois from Canada and Yermak�s Treasures directed by Oleg Denisov from Russia.
The Indian panorama section includes S Pradeep Killikar�s Bow Bow, Bultir Result directed by Pinaki Sarkar, Dastkhat directed by Rajesh Dhawale, Mohinder Pratap Singh-directed Ek Tha Bhujang, Santosh Sivan�s Halo, Happy Mother�s Day by Anjuli Shukla, Harun Arun directed by Vinod Ganatra, I am Zero directed by Suraj Tiwari, Pinti Ka Sabun by Pramod Pathak, Sivakumar Balathandayuthem�s Stamp Album and The Cake Story directed by Rukshana Tabassum.
Today the festival opened with the film Halkaa (Pichku�s Dream) directed by Dr Nila Madhab Panda. The film is a unique take of a child�s heroism. A problem the protagonist faces every day is defecating in the open along with others.
Earlier, inaugurating the festival, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the children film festival held for the first time in the State would inspire the young generation to make meaningful contribution to society by becoming able citizens. He urged the children to utilise the knowledge acquired from the films in shaping their lives.
Calling upon the teachers and parents to create awareness among the children about right use of mobile phones and internet, the Chief Minister also highlighted the need to play sports and engage in physical activity for good health.
Referring to the examples of Hima Das bringing laurels to the State in sports and Rima Das�s film Village Rockstars getting nominated for Oscars from India, Chief Minister Sonowal urged the young people of the State to draw inspiration from these success stories to achieve excellence in different fields.
