Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Nov 26: The 10th edition of International Children's Film Festival, hosted in Mangaluru for the first time, culminated at hotel Gold Finch here on Thursday November 26, with popular actress Nagma gracing the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Nagma said, "India has always been known for unity and diversity, but right now, there is an environment around us that is promoting intolerance. Out of 125 crore people, one crore are spreading fear, and India always believed in 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (world family) and this is the essense of Hindu culture.
"At this present juncture, we need films that promote tolerance, and I urge filmmakers to make such movies. Children have tremendous minds. They are the future of our country. Hence we should inculcate the values of tolerance in them through films," she added.
"I congratulate Karnataka for being the only state government to provide Rs 25 lac annually for four children's films. I call upon the other governments to follow Karnataka's lead," she said.
Justice S R Nayak, judge of Karnataka high court said, "Today we are living in a troubled society. Hatred towards one another, self-centred attitudes, intolerance, and other violations of human values have become common at national as well as international levels. Along with this, there are many forces which have divided the mankind in the name of caste, creed, religion and different reasons."
Quoting Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, he said, "We should become citizens of the world. We should uphold the values espoused by Kuvempu and inculcate them in our children."
Stressing on the need to protect the environment, he said, "We should remember that if we go on exploiting the nature, one or the other day we will be exploited. In the name of different activities, we have been exploiting our environment. We need to seriously think about it and take steps to conserve our nature."
Convenor of the event Nanjunde Gowda of Children's India welcomed the gathering.
P V Mohan, Rajendra Singh Babu and others were present.
On the occasion, prizes were given in various categories to best international and national movies shown during the course of the festival. The film 'Kudhira' won the Best Actor award. 'Others Father', a film from Iran, bagged awards in the Best Actress and the Best Screenplay categories. The awards for the Best Director and the Best Film were won by a Belgian film named, 'Amazing Whiplala'. The Best Animated Film award was bagged by a Spanish animated film named 'Kiko's Paradise'. 'A Boy Who Comes Late Everyday', a film from South Korea won the award under the Short Film category.
Among the Indian films, Kannada film 'Banadi' won the award for the Best Feature Film. The Best Girl Child award was won by 'A Daughters Dream' and the Best Boy Child award was won by 'Jagdeesh'.