Hyderabad will be the permanent venue for ICFFI: Talasani

Cinematography Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav said that Hyderabad would be soon the permanent venue for the most prestigious biennial International Children Film Festival of India (ICFFI). The historic city of Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, the youngest Indian State, has been hosting the global event since long and the 20th ICFFI is being launched at a colourful function on Wednesday.

On the eve of the opening of the festival, the Minister inaugurated the media centre at the Prasad's Imax in the city this afternoon.

Addressing the media persons later, the Minister said that efforts are being on to make the city the permanent venue for the global festival and the youngest State of the country is too happy to host it. Extending a warm welcome to the delegates from various countries gathering here for the week-long mega event, Talasani Srinivas Yadav said that the films selected for the festival are being screened in all parts of the State, including 13 screens in Hyderabad city.

The Minister felt that the festival largely helps generate creativity among the small kids. The city that has all the facilities like the gaming city and IT corridor has all the necessary qualities to host the international film festival.

ICFFI is one of the largest and most colorful children's film festivals in the world. A unique feature of the festival is its audience, the children travel from little villages and towns from across India to view high quality children's films that they would never be exposed to otherwise. Eminent guests and directors drawn from different parts of the world gather in Hyderabad and share their experiences. 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.

Chief Executive Officer of the ICFFI Shravan Kumar is of the opinion that the children film festival is an event apart, particularly the 20th ICFFI, as large number of countries are taking part in this year's festival. Little directors from 31 countries are participating in this event, he added. Observing that the people of Telangana are film savvy, he said they have been favouring the children's films since long.

Commissioner of Information and Public Relations Navin Mittal explained the arrangements being made for the 20th International Children Film Festival of India and said that the children's film "School Chalega" will be screened after the inauguration of the event at Shilpa Kala Thoranam tomorrow.