Russian film 'Celestial Camel' to open Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth 2015

New Delhi: Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth 2015 (SIFFCY) will have award winning Russian movie 'Celestial Camel', directed by Yury Feting as the opening film.

Scheduled to be held from December 21-27, the festival will showcase more than 80 films this year that includes 30

feature films, 30 Shorts and documentaries and 20 students' films. 'My friend Raffi', 'Fiddlestick', 'Lola on the pea' from Germany, 'A Christmoose story', 'Pim & Pom' from Netherlands and 'Birds of passage' from France/Belgium are some of the celebrated movies that will be screened during the week long festival.

Five films from from "Children's Film Society of India" will be showcased under a special section. "We aim to sensitise children and youth through meaningful cinema and create a lasting impact in their minds through SIFFCY.

"On one hand we work with underprivileged children and their families and on the other hand under the concept of

'civic driven change' we try sensitising privileged masses particularly children and youth," said Vikram Singh Verma, COO, Smile Foundation.

The festival has film makers such as Nagesh Kukunoor, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Hansal Mehta, Santosh Sivan, Jahnu Barua, and Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty on board as advisory members.

"The idea behind this initiative is to design a rich mix of film and programmes to build and support the growing

interest in meaningful filmmaking," said Jitendra Mishra, Festival Director, SIFFCY.

Workshops on children related filmmaking, photography, sand animation, storytelling and other activities will also be conducted as a part of the movie fair.