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International Children's Film Festival India (ICFFI) also popularly known as The
Golden Elephant is a biennial festival that strives to bring the most delightful
and imaginative national and international children's cinema to young audiences
in India. Outstanding features, shorts, live action and animation films are screened
over seven days of festive celebrations, attended by more than one hundred thousand
children and hundreds of film professionals from across the world.
ICFFI is organized by Children's Film Society India (CFSI) – a national government
body committed to nurturing a dynamic children's film culture in the country. Since
its inception in 1955, CFSI has been producing, exhibiting and distributing exclusive,
entertaining and enriching content for children. CFSI is currently chaired by Nandita
Das - renowned actor and director.
Every two years, the festival begins on 14th November, the birth date of Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru – India's first Prime Minister – also fondly referred to as Chacha
Nehru (Uncle Nehru), because of his love for children. Pandit Nehru established
CFSI soon after India's independence with the hope that indigenous and exclusive
cinema for children would stimulate their creativity, compassion and critical thinking.
It is this vision of Jawaharlal Nehru that guides ICFFI.
In a world that is cluttered with consumerist & often violent content for children,
ICFFI is committed to promoting cinema that is humane and non-violent, and yet delightful
and fun! Special care is taken to program films that cultivate an understanding
of other cultures, lives and experiences and encourage children to reflect on the
world around. Workshops and open forums at the festival aim towards stimulating
critical appreciation and creative pursuit of cinematic arts amongst young people.
The festival also supports the work of children's filmmakers by rewarding them for
their dedication and talent.
ICFFI is one of the largest and most colourful children's film festivals in the
world. A unique feature of the festival is its audience: more than a hundred thousand
children travel from little villages and towns from across India to view high quality
international children's cinema that they would never be exposed to otherwise. Here
they rub shoulders with other kids, eminent guests and directors from different
parts of the world. 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!
The 17th edition of ICFFI will take place from 14th to 20th November 2011 once again
in the historic city of Hyderabad, screening 170 films from 44 countries. The festival
will have three Competition Sections: Competition International, Competition India,
Competition Little Directors where international and national films compete for
the prestigious Golden Elephant Trophies, accompanied by cash awards. The festival
will also screen specially curated Non-Competition Sections including Children's
World that will showcase the most acclaimed films from the last decade and Chinese
Retro which will present the best of Chinese children's films to young audiences
in India.
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