Kashmiri film selected for Tehran, Mumbai festivals

Srinagar, Nov 16 (UNI) The Lost Childhood, a film by a Kashmiri director on the child labour problem in the Valley, has been selected for two film festivals at Tehran and Mumbai.

The documentary film in Kashmiri language, directed by Bilal A Jan was the first from the Kashmir valley to be selected for screening in the festivals.

We are participating in the Tehran festival being held from November 12 to 17, Mr Bilal told UNI here today.

He said the film has also been selected for 19th Mumbai International Film festival for documentary, short and animation film from February 3 to 9 next year.

Mr Bilal said the film speaks about child labour in the Kashmir valley.

He said the film would be screened in Felestin cinema hall at Tehran on November 12 at 1630 hrs and repeat screening next day at 1900 hrs at artists forum.

Mr Bilal said a number of scenes in the film are silent which are self explanatory, depicting the problems of the children who work as labourers in different sectors in the valley.

He said the main idea behind making such a film was to highlight and attract the attention towards the child labour problem in the Valley.

Mr Bilal, has worked with Shyam Benegal and Vidhu Vinod Chopra in their films, including Mission Kashmir, Netaji and the Forgotton Hero.

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