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Children’s Film Society, A.P., has been taking active part at every International children’s Film Festivals since 1995 organizing OPEN FORUM and Workshops like Script Writing, Film Making, Animation, Film appreciation Programme, Puppetry etc.,in association with A.P. State Film TV & Theatre Development Corporation.    The Open Forum during the 14th International Children’s Film Festival, 2005 was held at Media Centre at the Main Festival Venue, PRASAD’ s Multiplex from 15th – 19th Nov, 2005 from 1.30 p.m. onwards everyday.   The OPEN FORUM was inaugurated by Mr. Satyanarayana Rao, Honourable Minister for Cinematography, Culture and Sports, Govt. of A.P, the guest of honour was Ms. Nafisa Ali, Chairman, Children Film Society, India and presided over by Mr. Adi Sheshagiri Rao, Chairman, APSF Tv & Theatre Development Corp, and Mr. K.V. Ramana Chary, Managing Director, APSF Tv & Theatre Dev.Corp. Mr. Ramesh Prasad, Director, Prasad Multiplex and Mr. Satish Pendarkar, Director, CFSI and special invitees were Ms. Naduri Hampi, a renown chess player.     Mr. Veda Kumar, Chairman, Children Film Society, AP and President, Open Forum, welcomed the the gathering and introduced the foreign film makers, Mr. Bernd Neuburger, an Australian Film Maker, Mr.Bernd Sahling, German Film Maker and Mr. Funk International Relations from Estonia. He emphasized on the significance of such festivals.     Mr. K.V. Ramana Chary expressed immense pleasure in the CFSI taking such initiatives of Conducting huge, film festivals only for the benefit of children and appreciated the visionary efforts of Mr. Vedakumar who through CFS, AP is taking forward the endeavors of the state. He praised Ms. Hampi for participating in the festival and extended to express his gratitude to Mr. Ramesh Prasad Director of Prasad Multiplex who hosted such festivals. He encouraged filmmakers to make good quality children films and screen in such film festivals.     Hon’ble Minister Cinematography, Culture and Sports, Govt. of A.P, Mr. Satyanarayana Rao, in his inaugural speech recollected his days of film making when as a student had made a film and was awarded with the best film and best director. He encouraged children filmmakers to make such films, which had strong moral values and impact studens of the state.   Mr. Adi Sheshagiri Rao , Chairman, APSF Tv & Theatre Development Corp enumerated the number of theatres the state had and said that 14% of total film production in the country is contributed by AP films, he also added that out of the 33000 theatres in the country, 3000 theatres were from AP and the infrastructure of theatres in AP outbeats the ones in Mumbai and Bangalore and thus equipped with better facilities for the production of good children films. He urged the filmmakers to make films for the masses with economically viable budgets and ones that would give messages of the masses.   Subsequent to the inaugural session, the interactive session followed in Open Forum programme .The foreign Film Makers introduced their philosophies of film making each and detailed the kind of films made and the infrastructural facilities available in their respective countries. The students from different schools queried the resource persons with very interesting questions such as:   Ms. Asmat Taj from Bhavans School referred to Mr.Funk as to why is the intimacy shown between opposite sexes in some of the children’s films. Will that not have a negative and adverse impact on children?   Mr. Vinod a filmmaker responded that while he agrees with the query he emphasized that actors personify the character and that they were artists. That children of today understand that aspect well and thus after a certain age they would see the difference. However a debate followed, as students were not convinced of the response.   Aparna asked Mr. Funk as to what inspired him to make a Estonian film based on an Indian Folk tale' named Monkeys caps ". To which Mr. Funk replied that after a scrutiny of tales from many countries they found this tale very relevant and appealing.   One vociferous student from Guntur impressed the panelist who impressed that the amount of violence shown in films are having an adverse effect on the children as well as the youth of the country who apparently are very influenced by their role models the heroes. She appealed to the filmmakers not to depict heroes of films as terrorists or naxalites because the youth who idolize these heroes tend to imitate them in real lives.   The question evidently moved the audience as well as the panelist. However Mr. Satish Pendarkar justified by urging the youth not to be influenced only by film actors but also by scientist and other non-filmy professionals who have made it good in their lives.   The Open forum concluded with a vote of thanks.

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