Dr Shravan Kumar, the CEO talks about yet another edition of the International
Children’s Film Festival of India.
What goes into making a successful film festival? I always
wonder every two years before the curtains open as I watch the activity around
me.
In my mind, no festival works without the joint effort of people. To start with
my team that works tirelessly behind the scenes as they camp in Hyderabad which
has become our favourite haunt. The other important consideration is 80
participating and over 1200 film makers that also tirelessly support us much
after their film has been made so as to ensure the film makes it to being
screened at the festival.
The other support that comes to us behind the scenes over 100+
volunteers from colleges in Hyderabad. They work in ushering teams, delegates,
kids, parents and ensuring the necessary manpower for 7 days that a film
festival – this size-- has now begun to need. However, our biggest bolster
comes from the government of Telangana which has whole heartedly in every way
supported our cause.
However, the most important people in the festival remain
the children and our extremely diverse audience. We work very hard to ensure
that their voice and their tastes come through on screen as we bring to
fruition intelligent and interesting cinema that may open a whole new world and
perspectives. The post screening discussions are so invigorating that they not
only inspire the kids but even me to learn and grow more.
However, nothing beats the joy of children learning,
thinking, feeling and being open in their hearts to discussions and watch their
minds being opened to the world. In my opinion, the ICFFI and The Golden
Elephant remains the best gift we can give them on Children’s Day. Children
have a lot of expectations from us and the ICFFI is a conscious effort to deliver
what we can making this a hub for young film makers.
A lot of other film festivals have also started coming up
around us. We don’t view them as competition. To us, every film fest serves a
different objective yet with a common goal: to showcase good content with a
perfect blend of international and national content! To us, our prime motive of
providing children entertainment that’s real is key – to highlight to them human
infallibility, unheroic characters and the daily banalities of life in the
country and across the world.
The proof of our success will lie as we open our doors today.
Like they say in acting speak, we hope to break a leg!
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