Three-day national children's film fest opens in Udaipur

Jaipur, March 29 (IANS) For three days starting Sunday, Udaipur - Rajasthan's City of Lakes - will see the screening of children's 27 live action and animation films.

The Children's Film Society India (CFSI) and the district administration of Udaipur are jointly organising the National Children's Film Festival (NCFF) here.

The gala was inaugurated on Sunday in the presence of Arvind Poshwal, deputy director of integrated child development services (ICDS), Udaipur; C.R. Devashi, additional district magistrate city, Udaipur; and Bharat Kumar Mehta, deputy director of education department, Rajasthan, among others.

Actor Faisal Khan, popular for his role in TV show "Bharat Ka Veer Putra Maharana Pratap" was the guest of honour for the event. He is also likely to take an acting workshop for children in Udaipur.

All shows, which have been arranged in all leading cinemas of the city daily - three shows a day - are free for the children. However, the entry will be regulated through the Office of the district education officer of Udaipur on a first come first serve basis.

Shravan Kumar, CEO, CFSI, talking to IANS, said: "We had an international festival in November 1993 in Udaipur. It was very popular. We are hoping the same with this festival. After Udaipur, we will host the festival throughout the country."

"The idea is to make children understand art of filmmaking. So, we plan to make a long-lasting impact on children's mind by providing a carnival type of atmosphere, followed by screening of festival movies, leading to an exposure to art of filmmaking through workshop hosted by eminent filmmakers," Kumar said.

He said that various initiatives driven by the CFSI and workshop being organised at NCFF will encourage the children in learning about films and filmmaking.

"Keeping in mind the interest of children of rural areas, we, with the co-ordination of education department are also making special arrangements for the children living in these areas to conduct shows of CFSI's latest films through LCD projectors in school premises itself," said Kumar.