Families and film enthusiasts flock to Alhamra for the closing curtain
The audience appeared to have enjoyed The Centipede and the Toad and BitSeller best.
Young and old flocked to Alhamra Arts Council for the festival. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS
LAHORE:
The halls of Alhamra Arts Council were packed with excited children, their families and film enthusiasts at the morning session of the final day of the Lahore International Children’s Film Festival on Saturday.
Nearly 21 movies were screened in the three morning shows along with a special screening on public demand. Miriam’s Green Spots, Watch out Chamois!, Guddu Ki Guddi, Sea of Love, Abracadabra, Room on the Broom, Coloured Pencils, Gahungu, Diye se Diya Jalta hai, Justin and The Priceless Vase, Kanyana, The Bicycle, Lilly the Magnificent, Azaad Masi, The Soup, Little Gypsy, The Dark Light, Visible and Square Sounds, U-Turn, The Centipede and the Toad and BitSeller were screened.
Festival Manager Ali Hameed thanked the audience for their support throughout the event and praised the volunteers’ efforts for making the festival a success.
“We appreciate your support and co-operation. Your feedback and suggestions will help us arrange an even better festival next year,” he said.
Alizeh Taha, a volunteer from Lahore Grammar School, said, “Working at the LICFF was one of the best experiences of my life. I have learned a lot. I’m sad because I will miss my fellow volunteers... we worked like a family.”
Jawad Ashraf Butt, a media consultant, who attended the morning session with his family, said, “The management has done an excellent job. The festival was well planned. I hope they continue with the same zeal... that would make the festival one of the best of its kind.”
Ayesha Ali, a teacher at Beaconhouse School System, said, “They should arrange these festivals at least twice a year. The films screened at the shows provided the children excellent food for thought.”
Most of the students and art enthusiasts appeared to have enjoyed The Centipede and the Toad and BitSeller best.
Muhammad Ali, a student of theatre, film and television at the Beaconhouse National University said, “Lahore International Children’s Film Festival is an excellent platform for young and upcoming artists, writers, directors and musicians to produce great work for display... The LICFF has become one of the biggest children’s festivals in the country.”
Reyhane Salamat mesmerises viewers with her expressions
Nearly 675 children sat spellbound watching The Theft, a six-minute silent short film by Mohammad Farahani, at the evening session of the fifth day of the Lahore International Children’s Film Festival at Alhamra Arts Council on Friday.
Reyhane Salamat, an old woman accused of theft in the film, amazed the audience with her animated gestures and facial expressions.
Hope (Umeed), Anouar and the Moon and I am eleven, a feature film, were screened next.
Hope (Umeed), a 23-minute Urdu and Punjabi film in the live action category, received a resounding applause from the audience. The movie, directed by Ammara Tasnim, shows the trials and troubles of a shoeshine boy who tries to earn enough money in a city to go home in a far flung area.
I am Eleven, a 93-minute silent film, directed by Genevieve Bailey, received an enthusiastic response from the audience.
The audience also appreciated Anouar and the Moon, a 25-minute short film by Michiel van Jaarsveld.
Theatre and TV artist Tipu Sultan told The Express Tribune that Lahore International Children’s Film Festival had provided an excellent platform for the youth to showcase their talent in the field of performing arts. “It is up to them to make the most of this opportunity,” he said, “The festival was a great source of entertainment for the children and grown-ups alike.” He said an array of cultures had been depicted in the films screened at the festival.
Zarafa wins best feature film (animation) award
The fifth Lahore International Children’s Film Festival has announced the best films screened at the festival this year.
Nearly 100 of the 400 entries received were screened since Monday.
As many as 34 films were shortlisted for the competition. The management had announced seven categories for the awards: feature films (live action), feature films (animation), short films (live action), short films (animation), Pakistani films above 18, Pakistani films under 18 and films-made-by-children.
The jury members were Samar Minallah, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Nisar Malik, Imran Babur, Armughan Hassan.
The 90-minute German film Wickie and Treasure of the Gods won in the feature film (live action) category. Zarafa, an 80-minute French film, which was also a great favourite with the audience, won in the feature film (animation) category. Coloured Pencils, a 16-minute Brazilian film, won in the short films (live action) category. British film Room on the Broom won in the short films (animation) category. Under the Pillow, an 8-minute Spanish documentary, won in the films-made-by-children category.
Azaad Masi (Maseeh) – a story of a Pakistani Christian boy and his dreams and aspirations won in the Pakistani films above 18 category. A short documentary film, Dengue – The Silent Killer won in the Pakistani films under 18 category.
The festival ended on Saturday and was followed by the awards ceremony.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2013.
The halls of Alhamra Arts Council were packed with excited children, their families and film enthusiasts at the morning session of the final day of the Lahore International Children’s Film Festival on Saturday.
Nearly 21 movies were screened in the three morning shows along with a special screening on public demand. Miriam’s Green Spots, Watch out Chamois!, Guddu Ki Guddi, Sea of Love, Abracadabra, Room on the Broom, Coloured Pencils, Gahungu, Diye se Diya Jalta hai, Justin and The Priceless Vase, Kanyana, The Bicycle, Lilly the Magnificent, Azaad Masi, The Soup, Little Gypsy, The Dark Light, Visible and Square Sounds, U-Turn, The Centipede and the Toad and BitSeller were screened.
Festival Manager Ali Hameed thanked the audience for their support throughout the event and praised the volunteers’ efforts for making the festival a success.
“We appreciate your support and co-operation. Your feedback and suggestions will help us arrange an even better festival next year,” he said.
Alizeh Taha, a volunteer from Lahore Grammar School, said, “Working at the LICFF was one of the best experiences of my life. I have learned a lot. I’m sad because I will miss my fellow volunteers... we worked like a family.”
Jawad Ashraf Butt, a media consultant, who attended the morning session with his family, said, “The management has done an excellent job. The festival was well planned. I hope they continue with the same zeal... that would make the festival one of the best of its kind.”
Ayesha Ali, a teacher at Beaconhouse School System, said, “They should arrange these festivals at least twice a year. The films screened at the shows provided the children excellent food for thought.”
Most of the students and art enthusiasts appeared to have enjoyed The Centipede and the Toad and BitSeller best.
Muhammad Ali, a student of theatre, film and television at the Beaconhouse National University said, “Lahore International Children’s Film Festival is an excellent platform for young and upcoming artists, writers, directors and musicians to produce great work for display... The LICFF has become one of the biggest children’s festivals in the country.”
Reyhane Salamat mesmerises viewers with her expressions
Nearly 675 children sat spellbound watching The Theft, a six-minute silent short film by Mohammad Farahani, at the evening session of the fifth day of the Lahore International Children’s Film Festival at Alhamra Arts Council on Friday.
Reyhane Salamat, an old woman accused of theft in the film, amazed the audience with her animated gestures and facial expressions.
Hope (Umeed), Anouar and the Moon and I am eleven, a feature film, were screened next.
Hope (Umeed), a 23-minute Urdu and Punjabi film in the live action category, received a resounding applause from the audience. The movie, directed by Ammara Tasnim, shows the trials and troubles of a shoeshine boy who tries to earn enough money in a city to go home in a far flung area.
I am Eleven, a 93-minute silent film, directed by Genevieve Bailey, received an enthusiastic response from the audience.
The audience also appreciated Anouar and the Moon, a 25-minute short film by Michiel van Jaarsveld.
Theatre and TV artist Tipu Sultan told The Express Tribune that Lahore International Children’s Film Festival had provided an excellent platform for the youth to showcase their talent in the field of performing arts. “It is up to them to make the most of this opportunity,” he said, “The festival was a great source of entertainment for the children and grown-ups alike.” He said an array of cultures had been depicted in the films screened at the festival.
Zarafa wins best feature film (animation) award
The fifth Lahore International Children’s Film Festival has announced the best films screened at the festival this year.
Nearly 100 of the 400 entries received were screened since Monday.
As many as 34 films were shortlisted for the competition. The management had announced seven categories for the awards: feature films (live action), feature films (animation), short films (live action), short films (animation), Pakistani films above 18, Pakistani films under 18 and films-made-by-children.
The jury members were Samar Minallah, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Nisar Malik, Imran Babur, Armughan Hassan.
The 90-minute German film Wickie and Treasure of the Gods won in the feature film (live action) category. Zarafa, an 80-minute French film, which was also a great favourite with the audience, won in the feature film (animation) category. Coloured Pencils, a 16-minute Brazilian film, won in the short films (live action) category. British film Room on the Broom won in the short films (animation) category. Under the Pillow, an 8-minute Spanish documentary, won in the films-made-by-children category.
Azaad Masi (Maseeh) – a story of a Pakistani Christian boy and his dreams and aspirations won in the Pakistani films above 18 category. A short documentary film, Dengue – The Silent Killer won in the Pakistani films under 18 category.
The festival ended on Saturday and was followed by the awards ceremony.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2013.