International film festival for kids, youngsters in Bhawanipatna | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: For the first time, an international children’s film festival kicked off in Kalahandi district’s Bhawanipatna town on Sunday, offering children and youth from the tribal heartland a rare opportunity to watch and discuss movies from across the globe.
The three-day event, Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY), is being organised under the Smile Foundation’s outreach programme, in collaboration with the European Union and several embassy partners.
“This festival is not just about watching films. It’s about opening windows to the world and nurturing young minds to think critically, creatively and compassionately. We are proud to bring the initiative to Kalahandi, a region with immense potential and cultural richness,” said Jitendra Mishra, festival director.
The festival will screen over 30 feature films, short films, documentaries and films made by and for children from 15 countries. It will showcase many award-winning international films — a mix of feature films, shorts and documentaries — that tackle diverse themes like environment, friendship, resilience and empathy.
The festival began with the screening of ‘Bishwa’ from India, followed by ‘A Butterfly Heart’ from Lithuania, ‘Triple Trouble’ from Poland, and many more.
A special masterclass on animation storytelling drew enthusiastic participation from over 100 schoolchildren on Sunday.
“Smile Foundation has brought its international children’s film festival to Kalahandi for the first time, which will benefit students from schools across the district. This is not just a film festival — it’s a step toward intellectual and moral education through powerful visual storytelling,” said D Nageswar Rao, chairman of an educational group.
“SIFFCY is an initiative designed to entertain, engage, educate and empower young minds. It is based on a strong belief that good cinema represents much more than entertainment; rather, it is the most powerful medium to depict reality and emulate values. Film becomes an interesting and engaging alternative to stimulate discussion among young people about vital personal, societal, moral and world issues,” Mishra said, adding that the response on the first day was overwhelming.
The three-day event, Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY), is being organised under the Smile Foundation’s outreach programme, in collaboration with the European Union and several embassy partners.
“This festival is not just about watching films. It’s about opening windows to the world and nurturing young minds to think critically, creatively and compassionately. We are proud to bring the initiative to Kalahandi, a region with immense potential and cultural richness,” said Jitendra Mishra, festival director.
The festival will screen over 30 feature films, short films, documentaries and films made by and for children from 15 countries. It will showcase many award-winning international films — a mix of feature films, shorts and documentaries — that tackle diverse themes like environment, friendship, resilience and empathy.
The festival began with the screening of ‘Bishwa’ from India, followed by ‘A Butterfly Heart’ from Lithuania, ‘Triple Trouble’ from Poland, and many more.
A special masterclass on animation storytelling drew enthusiastic participation from over 100 schoolchildren on Sunday.
“Smile Foundation has brought its international children’s film festival to Kalahandi for the first time, which will benefit students from schools across the district. This is not just a film festival — it’s a step toward intellectual and moral education through powerful visual storytelling,” said D Nageswar Rao, chairman of an educational group.
“SIFFCY is an initiative designed to entertain, engage, educate and empower young minds. It is based on a strong belief that good cinema represents much more than entertainment; rather, it is the most powerful medium to depict reality and emulate values. Film becomes an interesting and engaging alternative to stimulate discussion among young people about vital personal, societal, moral and world issues,” Mishra said, adding that the response on the first day was overwhelming.
