The seven-day long 19th International Children Film Festival will be celebrated in a grand manner to showcase and reflect the distinct blend of culture and traditions of Telangana State across the globe. For the first time, the Telangana State Government is conducting the event and 200 films out of the selected 1204 films will be screened in other eight districts.
CFSI CEO and festival Director, Sravan Kumar, Information Commissioner and Convener of the event Naveen Mittal and Tourism special officer Kishan Rao told a press conference here that Telangana Government declared the event as a state festival with golden elephant symbol. The festival will formally commence at Shilpakala Vedika on Nov 14 and conclude at the same venue on 20. Elaborate arrangements have been made to conduct the festivities in a fabulous manner. It was decided to screen the films for deaf and dumb and other disabled children at Saroornagar and Saidabad. Chief Secretary heads an organising committee comprising 10 committees for the smooth and successful conduct of the festivities.
The wide reach of films screening will enable the children of nook and corner in the districts, and the Collectors concerned will monitor the festivities. The 1204 films to be screened, include 20 films from Hyderabad including a Telugu film “Aditya”, a short film on former President Abdul Kalam, 50 film entries sent by 40 Embassies and 37 films from seven countries of little directors. DEOs will coordinate to provide better transport facility, snacks and water for the children for watching the films. Online “Digital Passes” for the film festival are being issued and a separate app can be used to watch the selected films online through You Tube.
About 600 Delegates from 80 nations will get accommodation at Park Hotel wherein a Media Centre will be set up for the coverage of the festivities. Officials will coordinate with others and Media as exemplary efforts have been made to make the event a grand success. The films enable the students get exposure and knowledge of global geographies. CFSI, Centre and State Government are jointly conducting the event in a big manner in coordination with culture, tourism, transport, police and other wings with fool proof security. Telangana Government plans to make Hyderabad a permanent destination, and start film institute on global lines and help the children get into films production, direction and other related activities. Noted Telugu film personalities like Allu Arjun, Rana and those bigwigs of Bollywood will attend the film festival. Cultural programs also enthrall the audiences at various venues while volunteers will assist delegates at Airports, Railway Stations and Bus Stations.
Films screening places
The following theatres in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy will have wide reach to screen the films include – Prasad Multiplex – 1,2,3 screens, Hi-tech, Madhapur, Ranga at Jeedimetla, Prashanth at Secunderabad, Eshwar at Attapur, Sivaparvathi at Kukatpally Housing Board, Cineopolis at Malkajgiri 1 and 2 screens, Sri Rama at Bahadurpura, Indira Priyadarshini Auditorium and Hariharakala Bhavan. Some of the films will be screened at Ravindra Bharathi with cultural programs. Workshops and seminars will be conducted at Jawahar Bal Bhavan from Nov 15 to 19. (NSS)