Documentary film festivals are dime a dozen these days. Yet, here’s one that’s truly a rare treat, particularly for science lovers in the city.
Starting Wednesday, the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technology Museum will screen science documentaries. Over 40 short films are slated to be screened at the festival that is slated to be held over four days.
Jointly organised by the Vigyan Prasar and National Council of Science Museums, the festival will also hosts workshops on ‘Making of science documentary films in India’.
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Panel discussions to be held in the first half of the day will include talks on researching relevant content for science shows, role of science communication, the use of special effects in science films and popularising science through films.
Starting 2 p.m. on all four days, films will be screened back to back every day, said K.G. Kumar, Director of VITM. He said the programme was in keeping with the museum’s twin mandates to popularise science and promote scientific temper among children.
A good section of the films screened here have been shortlisted out of 150 entries to the Rashtriya Vigyan Chalachitra Mela and Competition, a contest that seeks to promote and encourage science film production.
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At the end of the screenings, special awards will be given under four categories to the documentary filmmakers.
The films are divided into four categories: popular science programme, short film on science and technology, animation/graphics/special effects in science films, and science and technology film made by students.
No less than 19 of the films screened here have been made by students, explains Arvind Ranade, festival coordinator and scientist from the Vigyan Prasar.
“Making a film on science is a great way of learning. And children knowing that others like them have done so, can be a great way to get children interested in science,” he said.