post news network
Bhubaneswar: UNICEF Orissa in association with Aaina, a voluntary organisation, launched the second season of Kallola, a short film contest on child rights, here Thursday.
According to the organisers, Kallola-2016 is inviting entries for short films (of 30-, 60- and 90-seconds duration) on the theme ‘Discrimination against Girls’.
The best five entries will be recognised as first, second, third, jury’s choice and children’s choice respectively.
Yumi Bae, the chief of UNICEF Orissa Field Office, launched the competition. “We know that millions of children, especially girls, are discriminated against and deprived of their rights due to factors beyond their control. Girls are thus doubly burdened. These inequalities when passed from generation to generation result in an unequal and unfair world. But we know that it doesn’t have to be this way. Through Kallola, we hope that many young film-makers will apply their creative minds to produce sensitive films that reach out and inform audiences on this issue,” she said.
Sneha Mishra, the secretary of Aaina, also spoke on the occasion. “We had an overwhelming response from film-makers, professionals, students and amateurs last year and look forward to the same or more enthusiastic response this year. In 2016 there are two important additions to the contest.
The first is the inclusion of a non-competitive section. This includes films for and by children. Second, the films will be screened across the state through regional film festivals, with which we hope to reach and sensitise a larger audience,” she said.
The contest is open to all. Interested participants can visit www.aaina.org.in/kallola for more information and the entry form. The last date of entry is May 30.
The annual short film contest Kallola was launched by UNICEF Odisha in partnership with Aaina in 2014-15. The theme in the first year was ‘Violence against Children’ and 27 entries were received, of which five were awarded.