A film fest for children, judged by children

NEW DELHI: At a time when children's films are trying to emerge as a legitimate genre in the Indian film industry , a film festival exclusively for the young doesn't really make any news. But if the festival is being judged by the peer group - within the age group of 4-15 year old - it's time to sit up and take some serious notice.
Stepping out with this unusual and interesting idea, the Chinh film festival , organised by film-maker duo, Meenakshi Vinay Rai, have lined up 65 kids from various schools to judge 62 movies from 28 countries.The movies are divided into three categories - animation , early education and pre-school . Said Vinay Rai, founder of Chinh, '' Traditionally , films made for children are conceived, executed and judged by adults. But the point-of-view of a four or fourteen year old is unique, and needs to be addressed in the movie which is specially made for them.''
And that's where the jury comes in. Over the past two days, these 65 kids have been putting in hard work, judging the 62 films that will be screened from August 3-6 , 2008. From three minute films that breeze by to lengthier 15 minute dramas, the kids have been discussing and breathing cinema.
But if you thought having children as critics made the going easier, you've got to be kidding. The verdicts are always candid, and often, brutal. Take for instance, Siddharth, a six year old critic , whose take on '' Sirit, episode 22 Ting Tang Tong' ' was: '' I don't like their language , they were speaking in Chinese.'' Seven year old Abhinav Nagpal is equally sure of what he liked about '' Me, Masi & Mr Clean'' : '' The starting was nice and some scenes were very interesting. (But) The scene where a girl is cleaning the bathroom was'nt good enough.'' What does catch their fancy is also clearly spelt out. Geetika, a 11 year old, while judging '' The Animal Book' ' wrote: '' a) The drawing is very good; b) The red frock girl is very naughty; c) The book is very beautiful from which the animal comes; d) The song is very nice. I will give 9 out of 10 for this picture.''
Rai says the comments are invaluable , as these films and what the kids think about them will form a database of information for the film-making community. The festival will also enable children to interact with some of the international film-makers and learn the craft of film-making .
That the festival has touched a nerve is evident from the responses of some of the jury members. Galaxy Bhatnagar, a government school student , has discovered the world of international movies, and dismisses notions of language being a bar. '' There were films on education, life and values . I am so inspired after watching one film called Anita, that I want my school to screen such films too,'' added the 12 year old.
Added Dhruv Khemlani of Integrity Truth and Learning (ITL) school, '' Children needn't just study and play. They also have opinions which count. That's what the festival has done for me.'' Khemlani, who has already decided to make a film of his own, characterises what the festival aims to do: get the children and adults thinking.
toireporter@timesgroup .com