Short film contest on girl child issues

Hyderabad, June 20 (UNI) The Prasar Bharti in association with UNICEF will conduct a unique short film contest for movie makers in Andhra Pradesh to coincide with Girl Child day on September 24.

Informing this at a press conference here yesterday, Prasar Bharti Director(marketing) M Sailaja Suman said the PB and the UNICEF had come out with a short film contest to create greater awareness among the public on the issues affecting the girl child.

She said the films should highlight events like early marriage, girl child trafficking and high vulnerability of women to HIV/AIDS.

The duration of the short films would be ten to fifteen minutes and 30 to 45 seconds for TV spots and ten minutes for radio jingles.

Appealing to the producers to make quality films with good message, she said the awards for the best films would be announced at a function on September 24.

Station Director of All India Radio, Hyderabad, P S Gopala Krishna said AIR had decided to conduct a programme ''Adagalani vundi'' for girl child in which the girl child could seek all information and clarify their doubts by calling to a specified number, which would be announced later.

Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and social worker Amala Akkineni and Communication Officer UNICEF Vikas Verma (AP and Karnataka) said they had undertaken several projects in the state for the welfare of the girl child.

Instead of projecting women as a commodity in movies, the film fraternity should project positive image of girls, they said.

The Hyderabad Doordarshan Kendra Director D Prasada Rao said films and serials should portray women in a positive manner and must try to eradicate the prevalent social evils.

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