New Delhi, Asvina 25, 1929
October 17, 2007
A total of 45 films will compete for the
top award in the International Competition and twenty for
the award in the Asian Panorama in the forthcoming International
Children's Film Festival, THE GOLDEN ELEPHANT – 15,
taking place in Hyderabad next month.
Over 300 films were submitted from about
forty countries for the Festival, which is organised by the
Children's Film Society, India, and the Information and Broadcasting
Ministry in collaboration with the state Government of Andhra
Pradesh. The Festival, which takes place every second year,
will be held from Children's Day November 14 which marks the
birth anniversary of the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru and will continue till November 20.
An international jury headed by renowned
short filmmaker Mike Pandey will judge the films in the International
competition. The international jury also includes veteran
filmmaker V G Samant, producer Mathew Horrocks, Andi Spark
of Griffith film School, Toon Boom CEO Joan Vogelesang, and
Toronto International Children's Film Festival Director Jane
Schoettle. The Asian Panorama jury is headed by eminent broadcaster
Chris McDonald and other members are Poland's Izabela Wierzbinska
, Bulgaria's Tsvetomira Niikolova, and India's Mrinal Kulkarni.
In addition, a children's jury will be set up to judge the
films from the perspective of the young.
"THE GOLDEN ELEPHANT" has many
interesting sections such as International Competition, Asian
Panorama, the Children's World, Retrospectives/Special screenings,
Creative workshops (animation), and Special events for children.
There are 26 films in the non-competitive Children's World
and twenty films in the special screenings.
The International Jury will award the following
prizes for films included in the International Competition
Section:
- The Golden Elephant Plus Rs.2,00,000 (US $ 4600 approx.)
for the Best Feature Length film-live action fiction (more
than 60 mins.)
- The Silver Elephant Plus Rs.1,00,000 for the Best Feature
length film - live action fiction (more than 60 mins.)
- The Silver Elephant Plus Rs.1,00,000 for the second Best
Short film - live action fiction (60 mins or less)
- The Silver Elephant Plus Rs. 1,00,000 for the Best Animation
Film (both feature length & short film)
- The Silver Elephant Plus Rs. 1,00,000 for the Best Non-fiction
film (information, research/ documentation/entertainment)
film.
- The Silver Elephant Plus Rs. 1,00,000 for the Best Director.
- The Silver Elephant Plus Rs. 1,00,000 for best music
score (either background score or songs)
- The Silver Elephant Plus Rs. 1,00,000 to the Best Child
Artist from a film in the International Competition Section.
The Children's Jury will award a Golden Plaque plus Rs.1,
00,000 for the film from the International Competition Section.
The awards in the Asian Panorama section, comprising the best
of films from Asia and the Asia-Pacific Region, are:
- The Silver Elephant plus Rs. 1,00,000 for the Best Feature
Length Film in the Asian Panorama Section.
- The Silver Elephant plus Rs. 1,00,000 for the Best Short
Film in the Asian Panorama Section.
- The Silver Elephant plus Rs. 1,00,000 for the Best Child
Artiste from a Film in the Asian Panorama Section.
The concept of an exclusive cinema for India's
children was mooted by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru whose affection
for children is well known. It was he who inspired the founding
of Children's Film Society, India (CFSI) in May 1955.
The objective of the society was to undertake
and organise production, distribution and exhibition of feature
films and shorts for children, provide them healthy and wholesome
entertainment, aim to enhance their knowledge, develop their
character, broaden their perspective and help shape them into
useful citizens of modern India.
CSFI is presently headed by Ms Nafisa Ali
Sodhi, a film artiste and social worker of repute. A former
National Swimming champion and Miss India, she is deeply involved
with several NGOs dealing with the welfare of women and children
and with extensive experience in the area of health, women
and child rights, poverty and social development and had worked
consistently in tandem with NGOs nationally reaching out to
the masses and making a significant difference in the lives
of the marginalized and underprivileged.
Veteran filmmaker Kuldeep Sinha, Chief Producer
of the Films Division, is Director of the
Golden Elephant – 15.
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