MUMBAI: A total of 45 films will compete for the top award in the International Competition and 20 for the award in the Asian Panorama in the forthcoming International Children’s Film Festival, The Golden Elephant â€“ 15, taking place in Hyderabad next month.

Over 300 films were submitted from about 40 countries for the festival, which is organised by the Children’s Film Society, India, and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in collaboration with the state Government of Andhra Pradesh. The festival, which takes place every second year, will be held from Children’s Day 14 November and will continue till 20 November.

An international jury headed by renowned short filmmaker Mike Pandey will judge the films in the International competition. The international jury also includes veteran filmmaker V G Samant, producer Mathew Horrocks, Andi Spark of Griffith film School, Toon Boom CEO Joan Vogelesang, and Toronto International Children’s Film Festival director Jane Schoettle.

The Asian Panorama jury is headed by eminent broadcaster Chris McDonald and other members are Poland‘s Izabela Wierzbinska, Bulgaria‘s Tsvetomira Niikolova and India‘s Mrinal Kulkarni. In addition, a children’s jury will be set up to judge the films from the perspective of the young.

The Golden Elephant has many interesting sections such as International Competition, Asian Panorama, the Children’s World, Retrospectives/Special screenings, Creative workshops (animation), and Special events for children. There are 26 films in the non-competitive Children’s World and 20 films in the special screenings.

The International Jury will award the following prizes for films included in the International Competition Section:  

1. 
   
   The Golden Elephant Plus Rs 200,000 ($4600) for the Best Feature Length film-live action fiction (more than 60 mins.) 
   
   
2. 
   
   The Silver Elephant Plus Rs 100,000 for the Best Feature length film – live action fiction (more than 60 mins.)
   
   
3. 
   
   The Silver Elephant Plus Rs 100,000 for the second Best Short film – live action fiction (60 mins or less)
   
   
4. 
   
   The Silver Elephant Plus Rs 100,000 for the Best Animation Film (both feature length & short film)
   
   
5. 
   
   The Silver Elephant Plus Rs 100,000 for the Best Non-fiction film (information, research/ documentation/entertainment) film. 
   
   
6. 
   
   The Silver Elephant Plus Rs 100,000 for the Best Director. 
   
   
7. 
   
   The Silver Elephant Plus Rs 100,000 for best music score (either background score or songs)
   
   
8. 
   
   The Silver Elephant Plus Rs 100,000 to the Best Child Artist from a film in the International Competition Section.

The Children’s Jury will award a Golden Plaque plus Rs 100,000 for the film from the International Competition Section.

The awards in the Asian Panorama section, comprising the best of films from Asia and the Asia-Pacific Region, are:  

• 
  
  The Silver Elephant plus Rs 100,000 for the Best Feature Length Film in the Asian Panorama Section. 
  
  
• 
  
  The Silver Elephant plus Rs 100,000 for the Best Short Film in the Asian Panorama Section.
  
  
• 
  
  The Silver Elephant plus Rs 100,000 for the Best Child Artiste from a Film in the Asian Panorama Section.

The concept of an exclusive cinema for India‘s children was mooted by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It was he who inspired the founding of Children’s Film Society, India (CFSI) in May 1955.

The objective of the society was to undertake and organise production, distribution and exhibition of feature films and shorts for children, provide them healthy and wholesome entertainment, aim to enhance their knowledge, develop their character, broaden their perspective and help shape them into useful citizens of modern India.

CSFI is presently headed by Nafisa Ali Sodhi, a film artiste and social worker. Veteran filmmaker Kuldeep Sinha, Chief Producer of the Films Division, is Director of the Golden Elephant – 15.

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