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Fourth day of the Open Forum progressed on the - 18^TH November 2005 at the Media Centre Hall, Prasad Multiplex as a part of the 14^th International Children Film Festival 2005. The programme began with an introduction of the entire panelist by Mr. Veda Kumar. The panelist comprised renown animator Mr. V. G. Samanth, Mr. Veda Kumar, Chairman CFS, AP and the OPEN FORUM and animators from various countries namely Mr. Marris Brinkmanis from Latvia, Mr. Endre Skandfa from Norway and Ms. Dace from Latvia, Mr.Simon from Switzerland Mr & Mrs.Rai a young and enthusiastic animator couple from India.

Mr. Veda Kumar invited few animation productions namely RACE, College of animation, Jungle Toon & Mr. Surya from               to speak of their production houses and the work done in promotion of animation. He then introduced the panelist to the audience who inturn spoke about their respective work of animation done in their countries. Mr. V.G Samanth a pioneer in the world of animation in India spoke at length on the evolution of animation and its promotion in India. He urged the upcoming production houses to take forward the work undone and make it a lucrative medium of communication.

The Open Forum focused on “ Animation in India and abroad. Today how you look at it ”

The open forum began with a very interactive session with the students. Around 50 students from 15 -16 schools from the city and the districts participated in the programme. They raised very pertinent and relevant queries, which left the panelist charged all the time.

The question raised by the young students was like:

Children do not like films on social issues because it influences them with the characters of the film and they begin to impersonate them. Can you make films that only the children enjoy?

Mr. Endre responded very viably by stating that although entertainment is core to any filmmaking but it holds the responsibility to take up social issues and communicate it to the world across.

Mrs. Meenakshi Rai was emphatic on expressing that since our country is a child oppressed society we need to transfer these issues to the world at large and make the children think on these issues as thinking in depth on social issues by children is absent in today’s context.

From when did animation begin in India and what is the latest development in this area was asked by a student

Mr. V. G Samanth responded by saying that it was 80 years back that animation was conceived by a few artists of India and it then progressed at a very slow pace.

The latest development is quiet impressive as the software in animations have given to a new dimension to animation.

There were an array of such questions shot by the students which triggered a lot of interesting responses from the panelists and made the open forum programme a very interactive and informative session.

Momentoes were presented to the panelist as a token of affection and endorsing their active participation.

The programme concluded on a happy note.