Breakthrough for Kalahandi’s Tribal Heartland
The three-day Smile International film festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY), organised by the Smile Foundation, kicked off on Sunday in Kalahandi district’s Bhawanipatna town, marking a breakthrough for the region’s tribal heartland. This international children’s film festival, attended by children and youth from the region, offered a rare opportunity to watch and discuss movies from across the globe.
- The festival was organised in collaboration with the European Union and several embassy partners.
- The Smile Foundation’s outreach programme facilitated the event.
- The festival aimed to promote cultural exchange and understanding among children and youth from diverse backgrounds.
The festival featured over 30 feature films, short films, documentaries, and films made by and for children from 15 countries, showcasing award-winning international films that tackled diverse themes such as environment, friendship, resilience, and empathy.
| Country | Film Title | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| India | Bishwa | Feature Film |
| Lithuania | A Butterfly Heart | Short Film |
| Poland | Triple Trouble | Feature Film |
The festival began with the screening of “Bishwa” from India, followed by “A Butterfly Heart” from Lithuania, “Triple Trouble” from Poland, and many more. A special masterclass on animation storytelling drew enthusiastic participation from over 100 schoolchildren on Sunday. The interactive session was led by experts from the European Union and embassy partners. “Smile Foundation has brought its international children’s film festival to Kalahandi for the first time, which will benefit students from schools across the district,” said D Nageswar Rao, chairman of an educational group. “SIFFCY is an initiative designed to entertain, engage, educate and empower young minds. It is based on a strong belief that good cinema represents much more than entertainment; rather, it is the most powerful medium to depict reality and emulate values. Film becomes an interesting and engaging alternative to stimulate discussion among young people about vital personal, societal, moral and world issues,” said Jitendra Mishra, festival director. The response on the first day was overwhelming, with many attendees expressing their enthusiasm for the festival. “This festival is not just about watching films. It’s about opening windows to the world and nurturing young minds to think critically, creatively and compassionately,” said Mishra, highlighting the festival’s mission. This is not just a film festival — it’s a step toward intellectual and moral education through powerful visual storytelling,” said Rao, emphasizing the festival’s impact on the region. The Smile international film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY) aims to:
- Entertain and engage young minds through films from around the world
- Educate and empower young minds through films that tackle diverse themes
- Facilitate cultural exchange and understanding among children and youth from diverse backgrounds
The festival’s success is a testament to the Smile Foundation’s commitment to promoting education and cultural exchange through the power of film.
The Power of Film in Education
Films have long been recognised as a powerful medium for education, capable of conveying complex ideas and values in an engaging and accessible way. The Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY) is a prime example of how film can be used to promote intellectual and moral education. “Good cinema represents much more than entertainment; rather, it is the most powerful medium to depict reality and emulate values,” said Mishra, highlighting the festival’s mission. “Film becomes an interesting and engaging alternative to stimulate discussion among young people about vital personal, societal, moral and world issues,” he added. The festival’s success demonstrates the potential of film as a tool for education, and highlights the importance of promoting cultural exchange and understanding through the power of film.
Highlights of the Festival
The festival featured a range of highlights, including:
- The screening of “Bishwa” from India, which highlighted the country’s diverse cultural heritage
- The masterclass on animation storytelling, which drew enthusiastic participation from over 100 schoolchildren
- The discussion on the themes and messages of the films, which provided a platform for young minds to engage with the content
The festival’s success is a testament to the Smile Foundation’s commitment to promoting education and cultural exchange through the power of film.
Conclusion
The Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY) has been a groundbreaking event for the region’s tribal heartland. As the festival comes to a close, we look forward to seeing the impact of this initiative in the years to come.