Heda Hoda (The Blind Camel)

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Sonu lives with his sister Lakshmi and parents in a rustic village in Kutch, Gujarat bordering Pakistan. One day when his father falls sick, Sonu and Lakshmi volunteer to graze the camels. During a food break, the camels drift away. Sonu goes in search only to find himself lost in the wilderness with no camel in sight. He unknowingly crosses the border and lands at herdsman Razak’s home in Pakistan. Concerned by his plight, Razak quietly takes Sonu and leaves him across the border with the promise to find and deliver his camels. Parikshit Sahani acts in this film that comments on the concept of borders that adults build and how no borders can be built upon the innocence of a child. The film has won many awards globally.

Director’s Biography: Vinod Ganatra
Vinod Ganatra has been active in the film industry since 1983. While working as an independent editor with television and the Indian Space Research Organisation, he launched his own production company, Movieman. He has several awards to his credit. Widely traveled, he has also served on juries of several international film festivals and selection panels

Awards
Silver Elephant Award – 13th International Children’s Film festival, Hyderabad – India – 2003.
2nd Prize – Vancouer Film Festival – Canada – 2004.
Opening Film – Hamburg Film Festival – Germany – 2004
Silver Awards – La Matatena Film Festival – Mexico – 2004
Special Mention – Cine Jeune De Laon film Festival – France – 2004
Silver Awards – Cairo Film Festival – Egypt – 2005
Bronze Remi Award – Worldfest Film Festival – USA – 2005
Indian Panaroma – International Film festival, Goa – India – 2005
My favorite Film Award – Ningbo Shanghai Film Festival – China – 2005

Hayat (Life)

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Hayat is a 12 year old girl who lives with her family in a village in Iran. She is looking forward to give an exam in the village school and is preparing hard for it. The night before the exams, her father falls ill and has to be hospitalized. Hayat is distraught at having to babysit her infant sister on the most important day of her life. But she is not a girl to give up that easily. With some well-wishers helping her along the way Hayat, whose name means life, makes a desperate attempt to give her exam. Would she succeed?

Director’s Biography: Gholam-Reza-Ramezani
Born in 1960 in Iran, Gholam-Reza Ramezani began his professional career in 1983 as an assistant director and scriptwriter. He was the Assistant Director in Amir Naderi’s ‘The Runner’. He has also made many short films. His second feature ‘The Cart’, won numerous prizes in international festivals

Awards
Cinekid, Children Film Fest Amsterdam, 2005
Special Jury Award
Madrid Children Film Festival, Spain 2005
Best Film
Golden Elephant Children Film Festival, India 2005
Children’s Jury Award
Istanbul Int’l Children Film Festival, Turkey 2006
Best Film
Centre International Du Film Pour L’enfance et la Jeunesse, IRAN
UNICEF Award
Buenos Aires Children Film Festival, Argentina 2005
Jury Special Mention
Zlin Film Festival, Czech Republic 2005
Special Prize of city of Zlin
Divercine, Int’l Film Fest For Children & Youth, Uruguay 2005
Winner of SIGNIS Award, Children Audience Award
“Listapad” Minsk Int’l Film Festival, Belarus 2005

Harun Arun

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Harun is a Muslim boy from Pakistan. He enters India through the desert border of Kutch in Gujarat with his grandfather who is searching for his best friend. But Harun gets separated from his grandfather and is taken in by a kind Hindu family who mistake his name to be Arun – a Hindu name. Harun wins over the village with his loving charm and courage. Yet when his Pakistani roots are discovered, his intention is questioned by adults corrupted by the biases and prejudices of religion and nationality. This film that urges for the innocence and compassion of children in the affairs of the world, has won many heart and awards globally.

Awards
1. LIV ULMANN PEACE PRIZE – Chicago international Children’s Film festival – USA
2. BEST JUVINILE AWARD – Dhaka Intl film festival – Bangladesh
3. TRANSMEDIA CRITICS JURY AWARD – Mumbai – India
4. LIGHT OF ASIA AWARD – Buddhist Film festival – Sri lanka
5. CIFEJ PRIZE – Rimouski Intl Film Festival – Canada
6. SPECIAL MENTION FOR HUMANITY AWWARD BY CHILDRNEJURY – Rimouski Intl Film Festival – Canada
7. AUDIENCE AWARD – FREEZE FRAME film festival – Canada
8. BEST COSTUME AWARD – 29th Augburg children’s Film festival , Germany

Gilli Gilli Atta

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Shankar is a criminal who turns his life around and becomes a business man. He is delighted when his wife gives birth to twins. However Anna, his arch-enemy from his old days, plots vengeance and kidnaps one baby. Chased by the police, the goons abandon the baby in a truck and run away. All hope seems lost for the defenseless infant when a little miracle saves his life. The film uses comedy to impress upon its audience that good always triumphs over evil in the end.

Director’s Biography: Pankaj Parashar
A reputed director of films and TV series, Pankaj Parashar is an alumnus of FTII, Pune. His diploma film for the institute ‘Malfunction’ won him a Filmfare Award for Best Documentary. Since then he has helmed the directorial chair for many reputed films, most notable being ‘Jalwa’ (1987) and ‘Chaal Baaz’ (1989), with the later winning him another Filmfare award. He also made the immensely popular ‘Karamchand’, India’s first detective series in 1985. Currently Pankuj divides his time making ad-films and working on his next feature film

Foto

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Eleven year old Foto has a strong imagination and lives in his own world of fantasy. Other kids consider him strange since he does not interact with them. One day, a film unit comes to his hilly town to shoot. Foto is mesmerized to see the magicians create rain and lightening, image and colour, and sound and music at their will. It is as if his fantasy is the reality of these magicians as a new world full of thrills, adventure and discovery opens up for him. But will he be able to reconcile his world of imagination with this real fantasy? The film won the Best Children’s Film award at the National Film Awards, 2007

Director’s Biography: Virendra Saini
Director & cinematographer, Virendra Saini, graduated from FTII with a diploma in cinematography in 1976. He has been intimately and consistently connected with the New Cinema Movement in India, working for both feature films and full-length documentaries with several major directors including Mani Kaul, Saeed Mirza, Sai Paranjpye, Kundan Shah, Vinod Chopra and Bhimsain. In 1990 he won the National award for Best Cinematography for the film, ‘Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro’.
In 1999 he directed his first feature film, ‘Kabhi Pass Kabhi Fail’ production by CFSI which won the National Award, for the Best Children’s Film.

Awards
Best Children’s Film – National Film Awards – India – 2007

Ek Adesh (Command For Choti)

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Choti belongs to a farming community in a semi-desert region of Rajasthan where her people are known for conserving the environment, especially the deer. One day she notices a man from a community of hunters who depend on hunting deer as their source of livelihood, trying to shoot a deer. Chhoti rescues the deer only to cause a flashpoint between the two divergent communities. This short film sensitively portrays the moral dilemma caused by a clash between different ways of life and the need for protecting the environment. It won the Swarna Kamal for Best Short Fiction Film at the 54th National Film Awards in 2006.

Director’s Biography: Ramesh Asher
A graduate of FTII, Ramesh worked with Indian Space Research organization (ISRO) on its educational television project. He has since worked on numerous documentaries as editor, director, producer and script writer. He is also associated with numerous NGOs working in rural areas. ‘Ek Adesh…’ is his first film

Awards
Special Mentioned By Jury – 15th International Children’s Film Festival – India – 2007

Baaja (Mouth Organ)

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Eleven year old Shibu is carefree and compassionate. To guide his wandering energy on a constructive path, his widowed mother sends him to the city with his uncle. Shibu’s energetic response to city life and his free spiritedness annoys his neighbours and aunt. This forces his uncle to be strict with him and take him to his shoe shop to keep an eye on him. Once while carrying a pair or shoes to a doctor, Shibu encounters an unpredictable situation. His reaction to the same surprises the adults while demonstrating a clear chasm between indifferent adults and caring children in this Best Children’s Film winner at the 50th National Awards in 2003.

Director’s Biography: A K Bir
Apurba Kishore Bir, studied cinematography in FTII and began his career making ads, documentaries and short film. He was a key member of Richard Attenborough’s camera team for the multiple Oscar winning ‘Gandhi’. Mr. Bir has made many films for CFSI including ‘Lavanya Preeti’ that won the Best Asian Film at the Osaka International Film Festival and ‘Baaja’ that won the National Award for Best Children’s film in 2003. He is a sensitive filmmaker who has often depicted children trapped in a world of adults obsessed with materialism and lack of harmony. Mr. Bir has won multiple national awards both for cinematography and direction.

Awards
Best Children’s Film – 50th National Film Award – India – 2003
Selected In Feature Film Cataory – Indian Panaroma – India – 202

Bandu Boxer

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Bandu is a kid with lot of grit and determination evident from the way he practices to become a boxer. On a trip to a tribal area he becomes friends with Dhondu and is amazed by how tribal kids study in an open school under a tree in contrast to his well funded city school. Moved by this, he becomes determined to raise money to build the school for tribal kids. He takes his father into confidence and tries to bolster support for his cause. But doing this will be a test of Bandu’s perseverance as he encounters resistance which only fuels him further. Pleading for compassion towards the plight of those unlike us, this entertaining film is motivating for children and adults alike

Director’s Biography: Rajeev Mohan
Rajeev Mohan is an ad, documentary and feature film maker. He has made films on issues such as social welfare, culture and sanitation among other. His documentary film ‘Taveez’ won the National Award for the best documentary on family planning in the year 1994

Chirayu (Eternal)

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

After the Gujarat earthquake of 2001, 6 eminent Indian filmmakers got together to contribute individual segments to ‘Chirayu’. This film thus becomes a boquet of six individual stories designed to reach out to the children of Gujarat traumatized by the earthquake and put a smile back on their faces. The directors who have contributed segments are Virendra Saini, A K Bir, Shyam Benegal, Santosh Sivan, Aziz Mirza and Sai Paranjpye. An embellishment to their efforts is provided by the renowned animator Ram Mohan.

Director’s Biography: Shyam Benegal, Santosh Sivan, Sai Paranjpye, Virendra Saini, Aziz Mirza, A K Bir
Shyam Benegal, one of India’s most renowned filmmakers, is a pioneer of the New Indian Cinema movement of the 70s. Santosh Sivan is the country’s most renowned and globally awarded cinematographer who has also directed many films. A multitalented persona, Sai Paranjpye has many books, films, documentaries and plays to her name. Virendra Saini is an award winning cinematographer and director who has worked with some of the most creative filmmakers of the country. Aziz Mirza is a well known commercial filmmaker of India who has made popular films like ‘Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman’, ‘Yes Boss’ and ‘Chalte Chalte’. A K Bir is a award winning cinematographer and children’s film director.

Bhago Bhoot (Bhago – The Ghost)

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Nanu is unruffled by rumours of a ghost in the forest near his village. He leads his classmates on an expedition to see the ghost. When strange noises emanate from the forest the other kids run away. Nanu tries to climb a tree to wait for the ghost, but falls down. When he awakens, he finds a strange looking man standing above him. The man is Bhago, a social recluse who takes a promise from Nanu not to reveal his identity. The two become friends and Nanu brings him food and reads him stories from his school books while Bhago teaches him about the plants, birds and animals in the forest. Once Bhago saves three people in the forest, but Nanu is credited for the same. When the villagers decide to felicitate him, he is in a dilemma whether to accept it or to reveal the truth by breaking his promise to his best friend?

Director’s Biography: Sai Paranjpye
Writer, director and playwright Sai Paranjpye is one of India’s most creative minds. Beginning as an announcer in radio, she has made serials, documentaries, written and directed films, written and directed theatre in Hindi, Marathi and English and also written many books. Her first feature film ‘Sparsh’ in 1980 won three Filmfare and one National Award. Her comedies ‘Chashme Badoor’ (1981) and ‘Katha’ (1982) are today considered classics of Indian comedy. In the 1970s she twice served as the Chairperson of CFSI and over the decades, has made four films for them including the award winning ‘Jadoo Ka Shankh’ and ‘Sikandar’

Chota Sipahi (The Little Soldier)

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Joze is a young Goan boy growing up during the freedom movement of the state in the 60s. Though young and thus expected to remain ignorant of the political winds brewing all over, he becomes acutely aware of the grave injustice everywhere and the sacrifice made by those around him. This instills in him a sense of responsibility that becomes instrumental in saving many lives during a crucial military operation. The film won the child actor the award for the Best Child Artist at the 52nd National Film Awards in 2005.

Director’s Biography: Jayshree Kanal & A S Kanal
Jayashree Kanal:
Jayashree debuted as a director with the film ‘Kaat Kaat Kad Kaddu’ for CFSI and followed it up by co-directing ‘Chota Sipahi’. Besides writing and directing TV programs, she also teaches direction and acting at FTII.

A.S.Kanal:
A graduate of FTII, A S Kanal has worked as a cinematographer for many ads, films, documentaries and TV programmes. He has also worked as a teacher of cinematography at FTII. Currently he is working as an independent producer and trainer

Awards
Best Child Artist – 52nd National Film Award – India – 2005
Best Theatrical Feature Film ( Foreign Category) – 38th Annual Worldfest – Houston International Film Festival – USA – 2004

Keshu

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cfsindia

Synopsis:

Keshu lost his ability to talk and hear along with his mother when he was born. He was raised by his maternal uncle. Being quite mischievous, there was never ending complaints from the villagers. His uncle had no choice but to punish him, but to no avail. The only person who Keshu could reach out to was his distant relative and the maid of the house, Devu. This was the time when Shalini, a teacher transferred to that village started living with the family. Keshu did not spare her too from his mischief, but she did not complain to anyone, and instead started liking him. He reciprocated the affection shown to him and there was a gradual change in his behaviour. She encouraged him to take up drawing and even convinced his uncle to put him in a special school.When he wins an international award for his painting, ‘The elephant and the Mahout’, he becomes the darling of the whole village. The end of the happy chapter came in the form of a letter to Shalini having her marriage arranged. Her return was a torment to him, his family as well as Shalini. Whenever the train in which Shalini left, passed by, he made it a habit to wait at the railway station. The sound of the train tearing away the darkness tore his heart as well. He realises the folly of hoping for a return of someone lets his uncle take him back to the world of colours and lines.

Director’s Biography: Sivan
Sivan began his illustrious career as a photo – journalist, contributing to magazines such as Newsweek, Life and Span. He learnt the rudiments of film making as a staffer with the USIS. He is credited with making the first 16 mm film in India, “Labour Week, in 1953.
From 1972 onwards, Sivan has made a series of films that have won him awards and recognition. Sivan founded the film complex “Sivan Studios” in Kerala, which has extended to an art gallery for emerging artistes and photographers. “Swapnam” made in 1972 was his first feature film, which won 4 state awards and his second feature “Yogum” was as successful. His earlier children’s film “Abhayam” had won Silver Elephant Award at the International Children’s Film Festival, Trivandrm in 1991.

Awards
International Film Festival of India, 2009 Official Selection, Indian Panorama
Kerala State Award, 2009 Best Children’s Film
CMS International Children’s Film Festival, India 2010 Special Mention to the Child Artist