Bhubaneswar: The 2nd edition of the Children’s Film Festival, organised by the Film Society of Bhubaneswar (FSB), began here at the GKCM Odissi Research Centre, Wednesday. The event aims to promote meaningful cinema among the younger generation and students, shared FSB president Subrat Beura. Students of several schools, including Loyola and KIIT International School, took an active part in the festival. The first day of the three-day event engaged students with hands-on workshops like pop-up artwork and sketching.
Spirited Away, a 2001 Japanese animated fantasy film, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, was screened on the first day. The movie’s plot revolves around a 10-year-old girl Chihiro and her parents ending up at an abandoned amusement park inhabited by supernatural beings. Soon, she learns that she must work to free her parents, who have been turned into pigs. It was followed by the Irish film Song of the Sea, directed by Tomm Moore, which follows the story of a 10-year-old Irish boy named Ben, along with his sister Saorise, who can transform into a seal, and sets off on a quest to liberate the fairies and protect the spirit world from the forces of evil. Beura said, “The participants will get a flavour of some of the best children’s films that will expose them to history and storytelling cultures and hopefully open up conversations about the world.” He went to add, “We, the film enthusiasts, believe exposure to good cinema enables cognitive development leading to lifelong learning and engagement with one’s society.”
RESHMI YADAV, OP