GUWAHATI, Nov 24 - The ninth edition of the International Chinh India Kids� Film Festival got off to a flying start with the participation of representatives from countries like Italy, Sweden, Russia, Brazil and South Africa on the premises of NPS International School in the city today.
The venue of the festival turned into a sea of children as kids from India and abroad, in colourful attires, attended the inaugural function of the three-day festival.
Children from different schools of the city judged foreign films in three different categories, namely pre-school (children between 4 and 6 years), early education (children between7 and 12 years) and animation category (children between 13 and 17 years) during the first day of the festival.
As a jury, the students are exposed to the art of media appreciation by viewing, evaluating and critically examining children�s media content entered in the festival from across the world.
�It is a wonderful opportunity to reinforce our skills of critical thinking, creativity, communication and decision making. It is a lifetime opportunity for all of us,� one of the students, a member of the jury, said.
Earlier in the day, NPS International School founder director JN Das welcomed all the participants of the film festival.
Participating in the inaugural function as a special guest, prominent film director Gautam Bora spoke on the importance of organising such festivals to create a better understanding among the citizens of the world.
�Films always help the common people to understand the society well. If we organise international film festivals and that too exclusively for kids, this will definitely help the future world community to understand the world in a better way,� he said, while delivering his speech.
Stressing the need for maintaining world peace and harmony through films, the film director of national repute expressed his serious concern over the present condition of the Assamese film industry.
�The present condition of the Assamese film industry is not encouraging at all. However, the initiative taken by NPS International School to organise such a mega event will definitely help bring back the lost glory of the Assamese film industry,� Bora said. He also elaborated on how to create an environment of universal brotherhood through such international kids� film festivals.
Natascia de Rosa, representative of the Giffoni Film Festival, Italy, said that international issues like terrorism, etc., can also be addressed by organising film festivals. �Students are getting enormous opportunities to exchange their views during the three-day event. Through the screening of films, participating children will definitely get an opportunity to know what is happening in the world,� she said.
Film personality of international repute, Elena from Russia also urged the participating students to see foreign films to at least know their neighbourhood.
Participating in the programme as the chief guest, Sanjeev Das, Regional Officer, CBSE, appreciated the move to organise the film festival in Guwahati.
The festival is being organised by NPS International School in association with the Chinh Early Education Web Channel. Meenakshi and Vinay Rai, founders of Chinh Early Education Web Channel, along with Mridul Laskar, Assamese film director, and all the foreign delegates and students were also felicitated during the programme.
