Chennai Academy of Motion Picture (CAMP)

Chennai Academy of Motion Picture (CAMP), a trust based in Chennai to promote good meaningful cinema to encourage short film makers with the support of Madras Management Association (MMA) announces 1st Ever Chennai International Short Film Festival that kick starts tomorrow at Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Chennai as well as at SRM Sivaji Ganesan Film Institute Auditorium, No.1, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, (100 feet Road, Near Vadapalani Signal),Vadapalani, Chennai – 600 026 and will continue till 23rd February.

This fest is free to attend and the opening ceremony will be held tomorrow from 5.30 pm and the award function will be held on 23rd Feb -6.00 pm at at Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Chennai.

CISFF had invited entries for World Competition -short fiction films, World Competition -Short documentary films and World Competition -short animation film.

 The Festival received more than 350 entries from 19 countries and selected 138 films in total from 19 countries for Festival screenings.

A total of 50 animation shorts were received from around the globe for consideration out of which Indian shorts Keli by Ranjitha Rajeevan, Pensov by Milind Kuri and Fakir Varun Nair have been nominated in Short Animation Competition Category.

Jury members of this fest are National Award winning Actor and Film Director Rohini, 8 time national award winning Film Editor Shreekar Prasad and Actor, Director, Singer Sh Abishek Shankar.

Indian animation shorts that will be screened in the Short Animation Non Competition Category are, Make A Wish by Anand V Kenil, Masque by Shashank DhonGhe, Alexandre TesSSies, Siddhartha Basu, Clouds by Nikitha Deshpande, Uncanny by Kenrick D’cunha, Yatra by Kartik Dutta, Anirudha , Eye Candy and Jam by National Institute of Design, Black O White by FTII and MIU by Whistling Woods Intl.

Speaking to AnimationXpress.com about the inclusion of Animation Category in the 1st Ever Chennai Intl. Fest, Srinivasa Santhanam, Festival Director, says, “We always felt animation short films have not got their due regard and outlet in the past.”

The fest will present Contemporary Films from Turkey, Country Focus from France, Films from Estonia, Indian Panorama and World cinema.

“Through variety of movie screenings at this fest, one can learn the new techniques and understand new trends prevail in various countries “, adds more

Coming to the prizes, the Best Film will win CISFF Trophy and a Cash Prize of INR .40, 000/- in which INR 20,000 will be given to the Director and INR .20, 000 to producer. Second Best Film wins CISFF Trophy and a cash prize of Rs.20, 000, in which INR 10,000 goes to the Director and INR 10,000 to the producer.

Special Jury Award will be given out for an individual’s artistic contribution to a film from any one of the category and the winner will receive CISFF Trophy and cash prize of INR 20,000.

Film society members, Students from Film Institutes, visual communication colleges, Members of Film Industry Associations, Artists, Government officials will find this Festival interesting!