Mega show of science films

As part of the second India International Science Festival (IISF-2016), a four-day competitive International Science Film Festival is going to be organised by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)’s constituent laboratory National Physical Laboratory (NPL), with the association of Vijnan Bharati (VIBHA) on the behalf of Ministry of S&T and Ministry of Earth Sciences. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of S&T and Minister of Earth Sciences will be inaugurating the International Science Film Festival on December 8 at NPL’s Pusa Road Campus.

The festival aims to encourage young science filmmakers and science enthusiasts for science communication, to foster awareness of science amongst people, and to inculcate scientific temper among them. 85 competitive Indian films on various themes of science & technology, environment and health are going to be screened in the festival. Out of 85, 13 films from student category and 24 films from the professional category have been shortlisted. These films will be awarded by the bench of jury in each category. This platform also gives the opportunity to the amateur filmmakers to showcase their talent.

28 Internationally acclaimed and awards winning foreign films from countries like Israel, USA, UK, Sweden, France, Russia, Germany and Norway are to be screened at the film festival. Indian films on science, health and environment will be screened during the festival. During the inaugural session on December 8, at 10 AM, two films from Israel Space Agency and Ministry of S&T, Israel will be screened. An Indian film made by ARIES-DST - 3.6 Meter Devasthal Optical Telescope – Reaching Stars & Beyond from Himalayas will also be screened.

A competition for Indian professional and student film makers has been organised where short duration science films are invited on various themes relevant to the country’s scientific aspirations and several social issues such as health, food safety, climate and ideas & innovations. Film based communication is an attractive and dynamic facet of engagement with different audiences due to its unique synthesis of multimedia systems including audio, video, animation, and graphics, etc. The initiative recognizes the effort and contribution of film producers in the specialized areas of science and technology and motivates them to develop this unique profession of science film making with innovative quality content especially relevant to our country. 

Three workshops on science film making and science communication by Veteran Science Film Maker Dr. Mike Pandey, Senior Science Film Academician Prof. Iftekhar Ahmad and Internationally recognised Scientoon Dr. Pradeep Srivastava will be screened and further followed by a panel discussion during the mega show of science films.