The beginnings of CFS, Hyderabad Deccan to fill the gap
The dearth of such a mechanism for taking the already available good children’s films was felt by a group of committed, dedicated and energetic group with like minded friends. Finally in 1993 the Children’s Film Society was formed vide Reg.No. 1296/1993 at Hyderabad, A.P.,
In a short time their pursuit gained momentum. The CFS, Hyderabad based could start organising Hyderabad Children’s Film Festivals every year in enthusiastic association with the A.P.,State Film Development Corporation. The viewership went up in leaps and bounds year after year. In the maiden attempt itself, films were screened in 5 theatres with a total capacity of 15,000. The popularity and enthusiasm reached to such an extent that the festival could draw one and half lakh viewers to 14 theaters. All the children have seen these films free of cost.
The related activities of CFS, Hyderabad , A.P.,
When the much awaited international film festival for children and young people (I’CYP) brought gaiety to Hyderabad in 1995, CFS,AP organized an ‘Open Forum’ in which children were given a hitherto unheard of opportunity to ventilate their feelings fearlessly in the presence of grownups including film makers. The forum was open for discussion on all days of the festival.
Festival Director of 9thICYP1995, felt moved and could not resist expressing her joy in writing: “Organizing the open forum has been one of the most successful part of the festival. The endeavour of the entire team of the society (CFS) is truly commendable.”
Ms. Connie Tardos, Executive Director, International Center of Films for the children and young people, who came all the way from Canada, said, “Coming from abroad, I must also say that I am most impressed by the ability of Indian children to hold independent opinions and to express them clearly in such fora. This is the hope of tomorrow. Though we may not call it an achievement, we can say that we have found a totally different way of looking at children.”
The Network of CFS
For the CFS a child is universal. The child could be from a rural background or from an urban background, rich or poor, male or female. The child is beyond class, colour, caste, religion and gender. So the CFS, Hyderabad, A.P., has taken films to villages. The CFS, Hyderabad has branches in 15 districts and it has extended affiliation to 14 children’s wings of several film societies in the state. Even in Hyderabad, the CFS, Hyderabad has stretched itself into 7 branches.
Other related activities of CFS
Seeing good films is education. We should persuade children to see and understand good films as we encourage them to read good books. Persuasion and encouragement is only possible through awareness. Having realised this point, the CFS, Hyderabad, A.P., began organising workshops, Seminars, Competition and Exhibitions for Children as and when possible right from the days of its inception. All forms of art and branches of knowledge related to film making, essay, painting, photography, literature, dance and so on have been earmarked for such competitions and exhibitions.
With the inspiration of a response from the participants a continuous persuasion was done with the information Minister of Central Government and Andhra Pradesh Government to consider Hyderabad as a venue for the International Children’s Film Festival. The efforts prove fruitful with the decision of holding the 9th International Children’s Film Festival at Hyderabad in 1995. Further the decision to make Hyderabad as a permanent venue of the International Children’s Film Festival gave us rejuvenation.
The State Government came forward by allotting sufficient land to the proposed children’s film complex at Hyderabad which will be of great encouragement to the children film movement.
Monthly screenings and HCFF:
Children’s Film Society, Hyderabad has also started Monthly Screening Programmes in 1997. Under this programme Children’s films of 35 mm. & 16 mm. which are procured from Children’s Film Society, India and Embassies of different countries are screened. Government, Aided school children are given an opportunity along with the Private school children to watch the educative and entertainment films. These screenings have been arranged in different places of the city to cover a large number of children.
The Hyderabad Children’s Film Festivals have been organised regularly from 1993 to 2000 on a yearly basis. From 1995 these festivals are being organised once in two years because of the International Children’s Film Festival, which is also a biennial festival.
Film Appreciation Programmes by CFS, Hyderabad
The CFS, Hyderabad has also started a unique Film Appreciation Programme for selected school children and teachers from January 2001. The children are given an opportunity to watch classic and informative films. The viewers will be guided in the interactive sessions after the screening by resource persons drawn from a panel of experts who include film makers, script writers, film critics, journalists etc. The Film Appreciation Programme, will develop the ability to view critically and to judge the films on their merits. This is the first such programme organised in India. The efforts of the society were praised by eminent personalities from the film field. Mr.L.K.Upadhyaya attended some of the Film Appreciation Programme sessions at Hyderabad as Guest Resource Persons and were greatly appreciative of the efforts of the Children’s Film Society of Hyderabad. They were very much impressed by the positive changes brought about in the critical analysis of the children participating in these programmes.
Other Activities of CFS, Hyderabad during several Children’s Film Festivals held at Hyderabad
Several workshops, such as Animation, Film Making, Script writing, Theatre, Puppetry are organised during every International Children’s Film Festival and the Hyderabad Children’s Film Festival. First time that an Asian Children’s Film Festivals in 2002 and 2004 respectively, which is first of its kind was held in Hyderabad.
Children’s Resource Centre
The CFS, Hyderabad has also started a Children’s Resource Centre where a lot of material for the requirement and improvement of the child has been gathered. This material includes films on video format, which have been acquired from the CFS, India. Schools have been encouraged to make the best use of this centre by forming Film Clubs in the schools.