Children World Over Celebrate the Coveted GAJA Awards for Kidz Cinema

Mumbai – 12^th December 2022 – KidzCINEMA 2022, an online International Children’s Film Festival announced the award winners in a glittering ceremony that was organized online. Born with the support of UNESCO and CIFEJ in the pandemic year, the festival is now well recognized all over the world for its contribution to the field of children’s and youth cinema. Films from Poland, Belarus, China, India, New Zealand, Sweden, Japan, Germany, Spain, Chile, France, Bangladesh, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy were the winners in seven (7) different awarded categories.

Six (6) films took away the top Award of GAJA Gold in their respective categories. It was shared by Giggle Wiggle–Hot Summer Day from Poland, and Didi from Belarus for Animation (Shorts). Besides French film Leave The Light On in Live Action (Short), The Perfect Summer from China in Live Action (Long), Indian film Power of Unity in Kidz Made Film (Youth), and My Superpower from New Zealand in Kidz Made Films (Juniors) categories respectively took away GAJA Gold Awards this edition.

Since the 2nd edition, KidzCINEMA is also having a unique concept of a special Young Jury Award for Animation and Live Action Short films made by Adults for children. In the Young Jury Special Awards Swedish film Bookstore in the Animation (Short) category and the Japanese film Kid Heart for Live Action (Short) category took away the Gold Awards.

Eminent Bollywood personalities Subash Ghai, Amole Gupte, Satish Kaushik, and Kanan Arunachalam, have supported the festival earlier. The festival draws its Jury from all over the world, comprising eminent filmmakers, editors, writers, directors, actors, and journalists.

Praveen Nagda, Festival Director, KidzCINEMA says, “We are extremely delighted with the response of filmmakers from all over the world considering since the launch we have been receiving over 1100 films every edition. This year the global participation increased to 93 countries, where we received films in 106 languages making this a truly global and cross-cultural festival.”

This year the Festival Jury included Alexandre Juruena (Brazil), Azadeh Shakourirad (Iran), Arun Kumar Narasimhan (India), Fahmidul Shantonu (Bangladesh), Gabriele Brennen (France), Monarose Pereira (India), Marion Creely (Ireland), Dr. Madhu Chopra (India), Mohammad Shahmohammadi (Iran), Prakash Bal Joshi (India), Ramesh Tekwani (India), Soultana Koumutsi (Greece), Shander Bawden (New Mexico), Tehzeeb Khurana (India), TS Nagabharana (India), and Vinod Ganatra (India).

The festival also had a Young Jury comprising cinema lovers, in the age group 13 to 20 years residing in various parts of the country. The Young Jury includes Ihita Jain, Kyra Narain, Mannat Kohli, Os Mishra Marathe, Pauravi Joshi, Piyushi Kuldeep Tanksale, and Os Mishra Marathe.

Ashish SK, Chairman of FICCI-AVGC_XR Forum, “I am extremely happy for KidzCINEMA, which started as a refreshing break during Covid times is now running into its 3rd edition this year. Interestingly the festival has attracted the participation of global talent of filmmakers from 90-plus countries in every edition, making it among the best international children’s film festivals. I wish the festival all the very best. I am sure that this edition will inspire all the stakeholders and especially kids and parents. Wishing all the future full of learning thru films and storytelling.”

Dr. YSR Murthy, Vice Chancellor, RV University, Bengaluru, said “RV University is delighted to sign an MoU with KidzCINEMA, and we look forward to a long-term and fruitful collaboration in Filmmaking. I fully share Mr. Nagda’s belief that this collaboration will highlight the world’s cultural richness and also promote intercultural dialogue in achieving peace and sustainable development. We are fully committed to this partnership and hope to do a lot of joint activities together in the coming years.”

Prof. (Dr.) Ambrish Saxena, Dean, DME Media School & Festival Director – CIFFI said, “Children’s films are not just about fantasy or magic realism, but they act as a window to a child’s imagination. KidzCINEMA is doing a commendable job by promoting children’s films thereby contributing to the making of creative and sensitive minds. Cineaste International Film Festival of India – CIFFI, a joint venture of Delhi Metropolitan Education – DME and Deakin University, Melbourne has collaborated with KidzCINEMA as we believe in generating a healthy film environment.”

KidzCINEMA 2022 is running online at http://kidzcinema.festivalsaints.com for a month since its inaugural and films will be available to watch up to 2nd January 2023. Meanwhile, the festival will also have workshops on creative activities including workshops on Acting by Suvahhdan Angre, Mobile Filmmaking by Ritesh Taksande, Theatre by Gulshan Walia, Navarasa by Actor Mithila Naik, Voice Modulation by Actor Leena Nandi, and Photography by Pritesh Rao. Besides, a panel discussion was also moderated by Prof. (Dr.) Ambrish Saxena, Dean, DME Media School & Festival Director – CIFFI on “Cinema of the children, for the children: Where the child has lost?,” during the festival.

KidzCINEMA 2022 Award Winners

GAJA AWARDS

YOUNG JURY SPECIAL AWARDS