 comes to Kalahandi, showcasing 30+ films from 15 countries, with global speakers, workshops, and more!){kind=link}
Bhawanipatna: Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY) to be held at Lakshmi Vikash Group of Institutions in Bhawanipatna city of Kalahandi district from 13th to 15th of April, 2025. Organized by India’s leading development organisation Smile Foundation, in partnership with the European Union and hosted by Lakshmi Vikash Group of Institutions, this film festival includes screenings of above 30 feature films, short films, documentaries and films made by children from 15 countries. Several capacity building workshops, masterclasses and panels for young people are also a part of the key activities.
The event is supported by Polish Institute, New Delhi, Embassy of Finland, Embassy of Lithuania, Embassy of Ukraine, Embassy of Georgia, Embassy of the Czech Republic, Schlingel, Germany, Italian Cultural Center, New Delhi, Samachar Just Click, Raahgiri Foundation and Goethe Institute. Purple People Lab and Samachara Just Click – Debendra Bisi are working as the partner organizations of the event.
Odisha-born, internationally acclaimed filmmaker and festival director, Smile International Film Festival, Shri Jitendra Mishra, founder of Purple Film Lab Ms. Shweta Parakh and several other film directors and dignitaries are participating in the three-day long festival. Delegation from the Embassy of Ukraine, Embassy of Lithuania and Embassy of Georgia in India will also participate in the event. Ms. Ana Doborjginidze, from Georgia, Ms. Rasa Ožiūnaitė from Lithuania, Mr. Volodymyr Prytula from Ukraine are invited as the keynote speakers.
Laxmi Vikash Group of Institutions, Bhawanipatna is making innovative efforts to connect children to a global platform to provide intellectual and moral education through film screenings. Many children’s film experts are scheduled to participate in this children’s film festival to enhance the skills of children through various workshops. Smile Foundation has brought its international children’s film festival to Kalahandi for the first time, which will benefit students from schools across the district. D. Shyam, Director of Lakshmi Vikash Group of Institutions, D. Ram Kumar, Co-Director, will be prominently present at the Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY).
SIFFCY is an initiative of Smile Foundation which is designed to entertain, engage, educate and empower young minds. It is based on a strong belief that good cinema represents much more than entertainment; rather this is the most powerful medium to depict the reality and emulate values. Film becomes an interesting and engaging alternative to stimulate discussion among young people about vital personal, societal, moral and world issues.