Children’s film fest valedictory, confusion galore

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru,Nov 28, 2015 :  The valedictory ceremony was scheduled to be held at Malpe Beach, , the venue was changed to Hotel Goldfinch here as Udupi DC  Dr R Vishal refused permission to Children’s India team, which lacked basic facilities.

 

The international film fest was organised by Children’s India, a Bengaluru-based NGO, in association with Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy and Dakshina Kannada district administration.

In his inaugural speech, Children’s India president N R Nanjunde Gowda owned responsibility for all the chaos during the film festival. Quite interestingly, he could not even recall the names of some of the jury during his welcome speech, and got help from those around.

Though he claimed that more than 200 films national and international films were screened in 11 theatres of Mangaluru, most of them were actually not screened.

During the announcement of awards, there was a confusion among the jury and most of the audience and media persons could not make out which movie from which country won which award. Subsequently, a chit was passed by the jury according to which the Best Film Award was bagged by ’Amazing Wiplala’ (Brazil) and the Best Director Award went to Tim Oliek for the film ’Amazing Wiplala’; the Best Child Artiste and Best Screenplay Awards went to "The Other’s Father" (Iran) and the Best Jury’s Choice Award was bagged by "Eko Tore Khudiram" (Bangladesh).

Similarly, the Best Short Film Award was bagged by "Kiko’s Paradise" (Spain) and "A Boy Who Comes Late Everyday" (South Korea).

In the Indian category, "Baanaadi" (Director Nagaraj Kote) won the Best Film Award and the Best Child Artiste Award went to Jagadeesh (for the film ’Kanasu’, director Santhosh Shetty and producer Thammanna Shetty).

Addressing the gathering, actor Nagma appealed the film-makers to make movies that create right spirit in children’s minds, especially in the present era when intolerance is growing. Regretting that there are about two per cent of Indians (out of 125 crore) who are with Hindu fanatical mindset, she stressed the need to control the illegal thoughts through movies.

Referring to the Swacchh Bharath Abhiyan, Nagma said, "Bharath is being cleaned outside, but there is a need to cleanse within India too."   She also regretted that people are talking about the problems, but there are hardly anybody who talk about finding solution to the problems.

Juries P Sheshadri, Somaratne Dissanayake (Sri Lanka), Viveka Prachi (Bangladesh), Kembavi Mutt (Canada) and M Veda Kumar (Hyderabad) were present.


Kanasu team to the rescue :  Reacting to the chaos of the organisers (Children’s India) on the first day of the film festival, ’Kanasu’ film producer Thammanna Shetty told media  it was the ’Kanasu’ movie team which had arranged for 11 projectors and 11 laptops for 11 theatres in Mangaluru, following a request from the district administration. "We were shocked to learn that organisers had come to the City without any preparation and the district administration did its best to save face," he said. He regretted that the certificate issued at the valedictory did not have the winners names or jury’s signature.

Film fest ends in Udupi :  Udupi ;  The films that were screened included ’Kanasu Kannu Theredaga’ and ’Sachin Tendulkar Alla’. The films were screened in Alankar, Diana, Kalpana and Ashirvad theaters. ’Kanasu’ film actor Thamanna Shetty and director Santhosh Shetty accompanied the students at Alankar theatre and also interacted with them on the occasion.

As many as 8,942 students were part of the film viewing on two days. While 1,142 children watched movies at Ashirvad, 992 at Diana, 1,008 at Kalpana and 1,000 children watched the films at Alankar.

Violet, a teacher from Malpe Narayana Guru English Medium School, said the films were worth watching. They entertained the students and also created awareness on many issues among them, she added.

The students from Saint Cecily School, Kamalabai High School, Saint Francis English Medium School, Shanthinikethan English Medium School, Nehru School, Alevoor, Manipur School, Hindu Higher Primary School, Olakadu school, Uppur Government Higher Primary School, Kodikanyana School, Parkala School, Kukkehalli and Manipura Government higher primary school, she added.