AMN / GOA
UNICEF and National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) have joined hands to promote films with a child rights perspective at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. A special section for films that highlight children’s and adolescents’ issues and rights have been created at IFFI for the first time.
Six films curated jointly by NFDC and UNICEF are being screened during the 9-day festival. These films depict the real issues faced by children and raise awareness on the rights of children. These films will also reflect on the dynamic forces that shape childhood and its socio-economic contexts. They include Nagesh Kukunoor directed ‘Dhanak’, which depicts a child’s journey to get her visually impaired brother treated. Another film ‘Nani Tere Morni’ by Akashaditya Lama is based on a true story about a child who overcame fear and saved her grandmother from drowning.
‘Sumi’, directed by Amol Gole, is an upbeat and inspiring story about a 12-year-old underprivileged girl who dreams of riding her bicycle to school, which is many miles away from her village. ‘Two Friends’ (original title Dostojee) is a Bengali film directed by Prasun Chatterjee that depicts the friendship of two children aged eight years at a time when the religious divide was at its peak following an unfortunate incident. ‘Udd Jaa Nanhe Dil’, a Hindi film directed by Swaroopraj Medara, is about a child who is unsure how he will be treated after being allowed to attend an affluent school despite coming from a poor family.
Along with the screenings of these six films, IFFI will also be engaging with the leading filmmakers on the role of creative cinema in promoting rights of children. This will be done through UNICEF Knowledge sessions and panel discussions at IFFI.