from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Nov 27: The Children's Film Society of India (CFSI) will host `national competitive children's film awards' on the lines of fifth national film awards in Delhi between November 14 and 18, 2008, Nafisa Ali, chairperson, CFSI stated.

This is for the first time that any national awards are being planned for the children's films which requires boosting as they contribute hardly one percent of total 900 films annually produced in India, Ali stated.

The CFSI plans to hold the competitions in three different categories including competition, Information and retrospective. "Children's feature film in fiction and animation category too can compete," she said.

Ali, who is down in Goa to attend the ongoing international film festival of India, said,"We will be holding international children's film festival in Hyderbad in 2007 and next year, the national awards would be presented."

The CFSI will be a vehicle to promote children's films in the country and we want that even filmmaker from other languages should also participate. We can show their films globally after sub titling, Ali stated.

"36 per cent of India is below 16 years and still we have hardly any films for them," she said lauding commercial film like Krish that was a huge success.

"Ali feels that child audience is very enthusiastic, inspiring and spontaneous. "For our golden jubilee festival, we have 28,000 children participating... they were so much enthusiastic," she recalled.

"Children's films are always small-budgeted but give bigger returns," Ali said.