UNICEF organises 8th International Children's Film Festival

Kolkata, May 10 (UNI) With a view to presenting a panorama of world cinema for children, the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, in association with the UNICEF, has organised the Eighth International Children's Film Festival from May 14 to 25.

The festival will exhibit about 45 films from several countries, including Sweden, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Iran, France, Israel, the US, Japan, China, Croatia, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, as well as India, with special focus on films from Germany, the Netherlands and Russia.

''Our children hardly get an opportunity to see films of other countries barring Hollywood films. Our festival is an endeavour to acquaint our children with world cinema,'' Cine Central Joint Secretary Sajal Dutta said here yesterday.

He said the special attraction of the festival was a film from the Netherlands - ''Volas Ticket'' - which was shot in Kolkata in 2000 and many local Bengali artistes were part of the film.

''The entire film was shot in Bengali and it was later dubbed in Dutch and subtitles were also provided for the people of the Netherlands. In our festival, we will be showing the Bengali version of the movie,'' Mr Dutta said.

Some of the movies to be screened at the festival include ''Dooratwa'' from Bangladesh, ''Give the Devil its Due'' from the Czech Republic, ''God Forbid Greater'' from Croatia, ''The Frog Prophecy'' from France, ''Sergeant Pepper'' from Germany, ''Juvenile'' from Japan, ''Sooriya Arana'' from Sri Lanka, ''Young Kees'' from the Netherlands, ''Aladdin's Magic Lamp'' from Russia and ''Kids in da Hood'' from Sweden. Besides, the hugely popular Indian films ''Sonar Kella'',''Kabuliwala'', ''Story of Tiblu'', ''Neel Akash'', ''Dreams of Rabindranath'', ''Podi Pishir Barmi Baksha'' and ''Aaj ka Robin Hood'' will also be displayed at the festival.

The festival will be inaugurated by noted film director Tarun Majumdar on May 14 with the animation film ''Shrek the Third'' being screened.

As part of the festival, a photographic exhibition on children, depicting their situations, problems and demands, will also be organised by the UNICEF. Entry passes for the festival will be provided free of charge, Mr Dutta said.

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