LAHORE:
Little Art launched the much awaited Lahore International Children’s Film Festival on Saturday with a scintillating dance performance by students from the Nighat Chaudary National Dance Foundation.
The creatively choreographed dances proved to be the perfect kickoff as children from all backgrounds came to watch the screening of 83 films from 26 countries. The first featured a 60 minute show in the morning and a late night show running for 76 minutes. Angel a-foot, a German animation film about an angel who had fallen out of the sky was met with a roaring applause. On the second day, a Pakistani short animation film titled One Who Is Wise was screened for a large audience.
“We are trying to create opportunities for children to learn and enjoy film,” said festival director Shoaib Iqbal. “The content is very important to us. We really aren’t interested in becoming The Cartoon Network.” Iqbal said that the organisation had received nearly 400 films from around the world and out of these 83 films had been selected for screening. He said that the films were both educational and entertaining. Iqbal said that the goal of the festival was to promote alternative learning opportunities for children and young people in Pakistan. “The major change we made this year was that we are not charging children to watch the films,” said Little Art organiser Shaigan Azhar. He said that this move had allowed families from lower income backgrounds to take part in the festival.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2011.
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