The 18th International Children’s Film Festival, India (ICFFI) popularly known as ‘The Golden Elephant’ will be held in Hyderabad from November 14th to 20th, 2013.
Amole Gupte, the eminent filmmaker and the Chairman of the Children’s Film Society, India says, “We have received an overwhelming response this year and we aim to make the festival bigger and better than ever before.”
The Stanley Ka Dabba director reveals, “We have got over 845 entries from more than 70 countries. We have also received films from 20 countries like Austria, Chile, Cuba, Lebanon, Ghana that were not represented in the 17th ICFFI. The number of entries for the section ‘Little Directors’ which will feature films made by children is over 100 .”
Lalitha Kala Thoranam has been selected as the venue for the inaugural and closing ceremony this year and the films will be screened at Prasad IMAX Multiplex and 7 other theatres as decided in the first Organizing Committee’s meeting held in Hyderabad recently attended by Prasanna Kumar Mohanty, the Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh, Bimal Julka, the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the representatives of the Festival including Raghuvendra Singh, Joint Secretary films, Ministry of Informational and Broadcasting, Government of India and Dr. Shravan Kumar, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Film Society, India.
The festival will present 4 competitive sections. The best film would bag the Golden Elephant trophy and Rs 2 lakhs in cash and and the second best feature will bag the Golden Elephant Plaque with Rs 1 lakh in cash.
The Festival will also focus on “Children with Special Needs” through its Open Forum, where filmmakers will interact with activists, educators and parents. Films representing children with special needs will also be screened.
A Master-Class Workshop on how to market Indian Children’s films internationally will be organised in collaboration with Cine-Kid, Amsterdam, the world’s most popular children’s film market.
In collaboration with Zlin Film Festival – the oldest Children’s film festival in the world, 18th ICFFI will also bringing in the best of Czech children’s cinema in the Country Focus section, including animations created by world renowned Czech animators.
The Festival Director and CEO, Children’s Film Society, India Dr. Shravan Kumar informs, “We are sourcing international award winning films featured in the 20 most prestigious International children’s film festivals including Dutch nomination for the Academy Awards and other recent children’s films that have won or featured in Berlinale, Toronto, Cannes etc…”
Disclosing the highlights of the festival he says, “There are many ‘firsts’ in this festival. “Some of the ICFFI films have been sourced from Cannes Film Market, allowing us to pick a selection of the latest children’s films, awaiting their World/ Asian Premiers. ICFFI has received 26 films from South America, a region barely represented in the earlier editions. We have also received 255 animation films from around the world.”
