After seven days and screening of 202 films for over a lakh young viewers across 12 theatres here, the 18 edition of the International Children’s Film Festival of India (ICFFI) came to a close with the German film ‘Das Pferd Auf Dem Balkon’ (A Horse on the Balcony) bagging two Golden Elephants.
The 90-minute film directed by Huseyin Tabak of Austria got the Second Best Live Action Feature Award and also the Best Live Action Feature Award given by the Children’s Jury.
The awards were given away by the Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan here on Wednesday evening in the presence of actor Pawan Kalyan, Information Minister D.K. Aruna and Festival Director Shravan Kumar.
Kishore Kumar remembered
Mr. Narasimhan drew a roar of applause when he turned towards Mr. Pawan Kalyan and comfortably repeated the lines of his recent superhit film Atharintinki Daaredi .
He went to recall the lyrics of Chalte Chalte sung by Kishore Kumar, asking child delegates not to forget the festival as they headed home.
There were screams of joy and applause whenever the giant screens showed Mr. Pawan Kalyan on stage.
But when he took the microphone, his very brief speech left them asking for more. He said he had agreed to attend the function only because of the children.
34 participants
Ms. Aruna said the Competition Little Directors section, introduced at the 18 ICFFI for the first time had attracted 34 participants.
“I hope we get a 100 young directors at the next festival and Hyderabad being the permanent venue, the AP government has in place all the required infrastructure to conduct the ICFFI here, together with the Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI).”
Chief Secretary P.K. Mohanty reeled out figures to explain how the festival was conducted, leaving no stone unturned to enhance the experience of children, while Information Commissioner Dana Kishore welcomed the gathering earlier.
CFSI’s CEO and Festival Director Mr. Shravan Kumar presented the festival report and said every effort was being taken to ensure that nothing but the best of children’s films were featured at the ICFFI.
