Children throng to city’s fifth film festival

800 children, education minister attend the opening ceremony.

LAHORE:

The 5th Lahore International Children’s Film Festival was inaugurated on Monday.

The children’s festival was inaugurated by Minister for Education, Sports, Tourism, Youth Affairs and Archaeology Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan.

The ceremony was originally supposed to start at 9:30AM but was delayed due to poor weather by 20 minutes.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Khan said the government was honoured to be a part of the festival this year.

He said the government was taking initiatives to reward and offer opportunities for the youth and the children.

Khan said government would host another Youth Festival to set more world record.

Over 800 children were present at the inauguration ceremony. These children were affiliated with various organisations, including Bunyad Literacy Foundation for Deprived Children, Roshni Association for Special Children, Fountain House for Special Children, National Association of Mentally Handicapped Children, Amin Maktab for Special Children and Rising Sun Institute for Special Children.

“We are expecting a full house later in the day. Over 80 per cent of our tickets have already been sold,” said LICFF Director Shoaib Iqbal while talking to The Express Tribune.

He said more than 20,000 visitors were expected this year. He said the venue had a capacity for 30,000 seats for all shows. He said Rs100 per child for private schools for day shows and Rs200 for evening shows would be charged. He said the event was free for children from low income households.



Iqbal said the festival aimed to expose children to the world through 90 films from 27 countries, which would be screened during the festival.

“Children in Pakistan need an outlet and an opportunity to learn and enjoy art,” he said.

Guddu ki Guddi, was produced by Meem Jeem Studios and Department of Multimedia at the National College of Arts.

Daddy ABC, was produced in the United Arab Emirates and The Centipede and the Toad was a French film.

All three animation movies were screened at the opening ceremony.

A Pakistani film, Bubble, on the experience of a young boy who sells bubble-making toys to children was also screened.

The children were captivated by the images of Guddu tricking the guard, or the centipede performing a classical dance to an eastern beat.

The Punjab University, the National College of Arts and the Beaconhouse Schools System have also sent entries to the festival.

More than 100 volunteers from the Youth Revolution Club are assisting in the festival.

Festival Manager and Programmer Ali Hameed said the greatest challenge for organisers was to shortlist Pakistani films to be screened for the festival.

He said 12 Pakistani films would be screened in the festival.

This year the festival is being held in collaboration with the government’s Information and Culture Department.

Festival organisers are expecting participation of 25,000 children this year.

9am Hall 1 & 2

A Girl Named Elastika

Bunty’s Tree

RedPoint

Marrs,

Miriam’s Food Processor

Under the Pillow,

The Gruffalo’s Child

10:30am Hall 1 & 2

Colored Pencils

The Photograph

The Picture

Daddy ABC

Lilly the Magnificent

12:00pm Hall 1 & 2

All the Riches

Are You Proud Of Me?

Home

It Hit Upon the Roof

Journey to the Iron birds

Dard ka Darmaan

6:30pm Hall 1

The Play Fellow

6:30pm Hall 2

Margerita

Dreams in the Depths

The Great Journey

Rising Hope

8:00pm Hall 2

Jalpari - The Desert Mermaid

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2013.