Summer-special film carnival for children

Kolkata, May 12 (UNI) To make the summer vacations more colourful and enjoyable to the children, the West Bengal Information and Culture department along with the Federation of Film Societies of India would organise an eight-day Childrens' Film extravaganza from May 19.

Cultural Secretary Tapan Banerjee told newpersons here yesterday, that 20 popular childrens' films would be screened at the festival, including all-time favourites like 'Gopi Gaine Bagha Baine' and also latest block busters such as 'Harry Potter', 'Narnia', 'King Kong' and 'Happy Feet'.

''Children have to remain buried in their books throughout the year because of tremendous academic pressure. As a result, they get very little time for leisure and extra-curricular activities. We are organising this Film Festival with the aim to give the children pure unadulterated fun,'' he said.

Mr Banerjee said besides movies, the children would experience other activities like music, painting and dance competitions, which would encourage them to bring out their hidden talents.

There would also be a Childrens' Book Fair, exhibiting wide variety of books on science and environment, art and literature as well as story-books for the studious kids.

The event would be inaugurated by National Award-winning film director Buddhadeb Dasgupta at Madhusudan Mancha.

UNI