National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi; Centre of Media (CMS) Vatavaran, New Delhi and U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai jointly organized a "Green Frames: Vatavaran Short Film Festival and Award Ceremony" programme on 5th March, 2024 in the Auditorium of Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal (A Regional Centre of National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi).
Brenda Soya, Public Diplomacy Officer from U.S. Consulate General Mumbai was the Chief Guest; Naaz Rizvi, Director of the National Museum of Natural History, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, New Delhi was the Guest of Honour; Almitra Kika, Public Diplomacy Specialist from U.S. Consulate General Mumbai and Avinash Vajpayyee, Registrar from Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal was the Special Guests of the programme.
In the beginning of the programme Deputy Director of CMS Vatavaran Sabyesachi Bharti informed that the "Green Frames: Vatavaran Short Film Festival" started as a concerted effort to raise awareness about urgent environment challenges in the country. The competition launched on 1st September, 2023 invited filmmakers, students and professional filmmakers/studios to submit their films produced after January, 2022. The response was overwhelming with a total 820 films submitted from across India. Following a meticulous three-tier jury process, 47 films were nominated.
During the welcome session, Deputy Director of the CMS Vatavaran, Sabyesachi Bharti welcomed the Chief Guest Brenda Soya, Guest of Honour Naaz Rizvi; Special Guests Almitra Kika & Avinash Vajpayyee, Beenish Rafat, Scientist-C & Head of Office, Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal; winners of Short Film Competition, students and teachers from various schools & colleges, media persons, museum staff etc.
The inauguration session of this ceremony begin with symbolic watering of plant- by all guests.
Chief Guest Brenda Soya congratulated for the successful organizing of this film festival. She told that film is a good medium to change the people's mind in positive way towards environmental conservation, biodiversity & other environmental issues. She also details about green energy to the audience.
Guest of Honour Naaz Rizvi congratulated all for the successful organization of this environmental conservation programme among students, teachers & general public. She told that film may disseminate information about environmental issues among the general public. Naaz Rizvi also detailed about importance of sustainability, water conservation, waste management etc. She made an appeal to adopt simple lifestyle to solve environment related issues.
Special Guest Avinash Vajpayyee told that film is a medium to spread the positive massage in our society.
During the award session, Films "Tale of a Cell" Directed by Swasti Manoj Desai & Arjun Mahesh Joshi has been awarded as Best film in School & Colleges student category. Respectively Film "Step" directed by Sohini Mukherjee bagged- as 1st Runner-Up and "A Spider's Dream" directed by Tanaya Rele bagged as 2nd Runner-Up award in the same category.
Similarly in Civil Society Groups & Amateur Categories; Film "Hapakira" directed Amit Balasaeb Jadhav has been awarded as Best film and "Indigenous Seed Keeper" directed Seela Lepach (Abigail) awared as Runner-Up. Also in Professional Filmmaker & Film Studios Categories; "Mountain Agriculture Marvel" directed by Barasha Das & Mr. Surajit Sharma has been awarded as Best film and "Alakh" directed by Janantik Shukla bagged Runner-Up prize
Special GuestMs. Almitra Kikacongratulate for the successful organization the programme.
The Inaugural session was concluded with vote of thanks proposed Dr. Beenish Rafat, Scientist-C & Head of Office, Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal.
During the Film Show session, there are 19 films of Hindi, English, Marathi, Lepcha, Aashmese were screened.
Deputy Director of the Centre For Media Studies (CMS) Vatavaran, Shri Sabyesachi Bharti; compeered this programme.
