International Children’s Film Festival India (ICFFI) also popularly known as The Golden Elephant is a biennial festival that strives to bring the most delightful and imaginative national and international children’s cinema to young audiences in India since 1979. The outstanding features, shorts, live action and animation films are screened over seven days of festive celebrations which are attended by more than one hundred thousand children and hundreds of film professionals from across the world.
ICFFI is organized by Children’s Film Society India (CFSI) – a autonomous body under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India committed to nurture and promote a dynamic children’s film culture in the country. Since its inception in 1955, CFSI has been producing, exhibiting and distributing exclusive, entertaining and enriching content for children. CFSI is currently chaired by Nandita Das – renowned actor and director.
Every two years, the festival commences on Children’s Day i.e. 14th November, the birth date of India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru also fondly referred to as Chacha Nehru (Uncle Nehru) known for his love for children. Pandit Nehru established CFSI in 1955 after India’s independence with the hope that indigenous and exclusive cinema for children who are the future citizens thereby stimulating their creativity, compassion and critical thinking. It is this vision of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru that guides our ICFFI.
In today’s world that is cluttered with consumerist & often violent content especially for children, ICFFI is committed to promoting cinema that is humane and non-violent, and yet delightful and fun! Special care is taken to screen films in the festival that cultivates an understanding of other cultures, lives and experiences and thereby encouraging children to reflect on the world around them. Workshops and open forums at the festival aim towards stimulating critical appreciation and creative pursuit of cinematic arts amongst children and young people. The festival also supports the work of children’s filmmakers around the world by rewarding them for their dedication and talent. ICFFI gives an opportunity to children in India for interacting across the country during the festival.
ICFFI is one of the largest and most colourful children’s film festivals in the world. A unique feature of this festival is its audience more than a hundred thousand children travel from little villages and towns from across India to view high quality international children’s cinema that they would never be exposed to otherwise. Here they rub shoulders with other kids, eminent guests and directors from different parts of the world. ICFFI is dedicated to these little delegates and to those imaginative film-makers who attempt to make films for the toughest audience of all – children!
The 18th edition of ICFFI will take place from 14th to 20th November, 2013. The festival normally has Competition Sections like Competition International, Competition India, Competition Little Directors where international and national films compete for the prestigious Golden Elephant Trophies, accompanied by cash awards. The festival will also screen specially curated Non-Competition Sections including Children’s World that will showcase the most acclaimed films from the last decade and International Retros which will present the best of International Children’s films to young audiences in India.
Other attractions in the festival are workshops, open forums and unreleased latest films made by Children’s Film Society, India
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