Patna: The Bihar Film Development and Finance Corporation Limited, under the Department of Art, Culture, and Youth, Government of Bihar, organised a vibrant Children’s Film Festival in Patna to celebrate Children’s Day. The event, aimed at children from classes 5 to 8, took place at Cinepolis and Inox PVR Cinema Halls, offering free screenings of a variety of films. A total of 14 screenings were held across two auditoriums, showcasing films like Srikant, Budhia Singh, Nil Batte Sannata, Kungfu Panda 4, Disable Me 4, Motu Patlu – The King of Kings, and Paw Patrol – The Mighty Movie. Around 2000 students from approximately 20 schools in Patna, along with some parents, attended the festival, sharing their excitement about the experience, which they described as unique and enjoyable.
In addition to the film screenings, a two-day workshop on various artistic genres was organised at the Bihar Lalit Kala Academy. The workshop, which also offered free participation, featured sessions on cartoon making, Madhubani painting, Manjusha painting, Mandala painting, and terracotta art. Renowned cartoonists Pawan and Neerad conducted the cartoon-making session, focusing on social and comic topics. Artists Sinni Kumari and Apoorva Singh led the Mandala painting session, while Vibha Lal and Surekh Das taught Madhubani painting. The workshop saw the enthusiastic participation of 100 children from both government and non-government schools across Patna.
Dayanidhan Pandey, Secretary of the Art, Culture, and Youth Department, expressed that film is not only a source of entertainment but also an educational tool with a positive societal impact, especially on children. He emphasised that films help in spreading social messages and raising awareness. Pandey also highlighted the importance of creative workshops like painting and cartoon-making in nurturing children’s creativity and assured that the department will continue organising such enriching programs in the future.
