The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The 1st International Children's Film Festival, organised by Children's Film Society Bangladesh, will begin today (Monday) at 4:00pm at Shawkat Osman Auditorium of the Central Public Library in the city.

It will continue till February 3. The festival will be held simultaneously at four venues in the city.

The venues are the Shawkat Osman Auditorium and Seminar Hall of the Central Public Library, German Cultural Centre, Iranian Cultural Centre and the Russian Centre for Science and Culture. The main event will be held at the Central Public Library.

This was disclosed at a press conference held at the National Press Club yesterday.

Morshedul Islam, filmmaker and festival director, read out a written statement, while Mustafa Monwar, artist, Khushi Kabir, Fuad Chowdhury, adviser of the festival, Munira Morshed Munni, General Secretary of Children's Film Society, Sheikh Sazid, Coordinator of the festival, among others, were present on the occasion.

An impressive collection of 135 films - feature, short, animation and documentary - from 37 countries will be screened at the festival. These films were selected from 200 films. A considerable number of films are from Germany, Russia, Iran and India. A selection of children's films produced in Bangladesh so far will also be a part of the festival, said Morshedul Islam.

Prof Anisuzzaman will inaugurate the festival, while

Rasheda K Chowdhury, Adviser for Primary and Mass Education and Women and Children Affairs, and Jamil Osman, Secretary for Information Ministry, will be present on the occasion. After the inauguration, an Estonian film 'Rudi' will be screened, he said.

As part of the festival, children from all over the country were asked to write an essay on 'My Favourite Movie.' Based on that, the festival committee selected 100 children from Dhaka and other parts of the country. Two children from Khagrachhari and 20 disabled children are also invited to the festival, he added.

Artist Mustafa Monwar is the chairperson and Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal is the vice-chairperson of the event, said the organisers.

"The event is focused on our children, as sources of recreation for them are limited in our country. The event would be a great opportunity for them to know more about the cultures and lifestyles of Bangladesh and other counties," said the festival coordinator.