7th National Science Film Festival & Competition 2017 inaugurated by Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi

In the inaugural address Governor said – “The National Science Film Festival is a crucial activity of the country in executing Indian’s national Agenda of science communication. The science film festival first and foremost provides a platform for talent across the country to showcase their artistic work. Science film makers from Kashmir to Kanyakumari can come at one place and show the films that they have made in the last year. The very fact that some of the film makers and directors have been selected to this festival out of a national level competition means in one way your work is being acknowledged. Shri Tripathi said “Film based communication is a dynamic facet of engagement with citizens due to its unique synthesis of audio and video systems. National Science Film Festival & Competition is designed beautifully by the Vigyan Prasar and NCSM with the aims to foster, strengthen and create scientific temper through popular science films. National Science Film Festival gives opportunity to science film makers, communicators, scientists, teachers and students to gain insights on science communication. Visual media, especially television and films play a vital role in the social development of a society. However the Indian TV and film industry has been lacking in this area and mostly on entertainment and commercial aspects. Science films play an instrumental role in bringing about a change in society in one way or the other. By telling a story through a combination of history, heritage, literature and art they subtly impact on the people and aid in nurturing scientific temper”.

National Jury of 7th National Science Film Festival & Competition 2017
National Jury of 7th National Science Film Festival & Competition 2017 will be Chaired by Eminent Science Communicator Professor Partha Ghose, Former Chairman of the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata with the following Jury Members: Ms Reena Mohan, Independent Documentary Filmmaker and Editor, New Delhi Shri Arun Chadha, Sr. Documentary Film Maker, New Delhi, Prof. Amaresh Chakraburtty, Director, Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata, Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh, Director, School of Journalism and New Media Studies IGNOU, New Delhi, Shri Anwar Jamal, Sr. Film Maker, New Delhi, Prof. Syamal Chakrabarti, Sr. Science Communicator & Professor, Calcutta University, Kolkata, Ms Smriti Nevatia, Film and Theatre Critic, Mumbai Ms Ranu Ghosh, Independent Film Director, Kolkata/Delhi.

Brief about the festival and objectives:Vigyan Prasar, a national institute under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India in association with National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India had successfully organized the five National Science Film Festivals and Competition (NSFF) in Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Bangalore, Lucknow, Mumbai in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively with the esteemed presence of Noted Film Directors, Actors and Media Personalities like Shri Shyam Benegal, Shri Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shri Amol Palekar, Shri Kiran karnik, Ms Suhasini Mule, Shri Nasser and Dr Chandraprakesh Dwivedi.

The National Science Film Festival & Competition (NSFF) organised by Vigyan Prasar in collaboration with National Council of Science Museums every year to promote development of movies on science, to recognize creativity and best efforts of film producers and quality of films on complex science and technology subjects is an outstanding effort. Another important objective of this film festival is to encourage efforts by both professionals and students to make science films. The opportunity to win the award could serve as a motivation for the prospective film makers to try their hands in making science films and not confine to commercial and entertainment programmes.

International & National Partners of the 7th NSFF 2017International Quorum of Moving Pictures Producers, Australia; Russian Center of Science & Culture, New Delhi and Gorki Sadan, Kolkata, French Embassy in India, United Nation’s Information Center, India & Bhutan; Research Council-UK, India; ILEAD, Kolkata, Bichitra Pathshala, Kolkata; DD Bangla, RSTV are the partners of 7th NSFF 2017.

Professional and student film makers across the country will participate in the festival. A workshop on science film making was also organised during the NSFF 2017 where renowned science film makers will share their experience in addition to the various academic sessions for upcoming science film makers and students.

Awards

Films on Science, Technology, Health and Environment will be awarded by the National Beaver Awards of approx. Rs.8 lakhs during the NSFF 2017. Total 63 nos. of films (out of 167 nos. films) will be screened for National Beaver Awards in various categories. Awards will be announced on 18th February 2017 during the festival. 7 films from USA, Canada, Russia, France and UK will be screened under non-competitive category.

Shri Madhur Bhandarkar, Noted Film Maker from Mumbai will be the Chief Guest during Award Ceremony on 18th Feb. 2017 at 2 pm at Birla Museum, Kolkata.

The competition will have Golden Beaver Awards in different categories, consisting of cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000/- / Silver Beaver Award consisting of Rs. 70,000/- / and Bronze Beaver Award consisting of Rs. 40,000/-. In addition to the cash prize, the trophy and certificate will be part of each prize. Special Award for Technical Excellence of Rs. 20,000/- with trophy & certificate for Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Graphics / Animation / Special Effects and Sound Recording and Design will be given to film makers. Three Special Jury Award of Rs.20,000/- with trophy and certificate will also given. There is new category announced in 7th NSFF 2017 for science film through mobile phone, and Rs.10,000/- will be given as Award under this category.