BHUBANESWAR: The 99th Indian Science Congress being held in Bhubaneswar comes with a surprise, this time not just to the scientists but also to the film buffs. This year, for the second time in its history, the ISC officials have decided to host a science film festival as part of the Congress. Screening of the films will begin at the auditorium of the KITT Dental College on Wednesday.
About 20 films from India and abroad will be screened during the three-day festival, which is hosted by Vigyan Prasar.Vigyan Prasar, a national institute for science and technology communication under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, had successfully conducted the first Rashtriya Vigyan Chalchitra Mela and Competition during the 98th ISC session at SRM University in Chennai in January 2011. Vigyan Prasar is taking the help of the Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BJGVS) for conducting the festival.
The organisers said the competition is to felicitate, recognise and encourage science film producers and production of S&T-related films and videos. “This film festival has generated much enthusiasm amongst science film-makers as well as universities and media houses involved in the production of films on science, technology and development. It will attract outstanding science and technology videos and films produced in the country and set new benchmarks for excellence in the sphere,” said Chairman of BJGVS and National Children Science Congress, R N Ray.
AWARDS
The competition will have Golden Beaver Award, comprising a cash prize of ` 1 lakh, a trophy and a certificate and Silver Beaver Award comprising ` 50,000, a trophy and a certificate for three categories: Popular Science Film (more than 20 minutes), Short Film on Science and Technology (less than 20 minutes) and Animation and Graphics Film on Science and Technology. Besides, there is a Special Jury Award with a cash prize of ` 40,000, a trophy and a certificate as well as a special award for best entry by student(s) consisting of `30,000, a trophy and a certificate will be another attraction of the competition. A jury will select the best films which will be awarded on January 7. The awards have been instituted in memory of Beaver, known for being highly industrious scientist and a team person, the qualities that ought to be necessarily possessed by a science film-maker.