EDUCATION SECRETARY PRERNA PURI INAUGURATES CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL PROMOTING LEARNING THROUGH CINEMA

Face2News/Chandigarh

Education Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, Prerna Puri on Monday inaugurated the four-day Children’s Film Festival, Cinematic Lens: Learning through Light… Sound… Action…, at Delhi Public School (DPS), Chandigarh, highlighting the role of meaningful cinema in shaping young minds. The festival is expected to engage over 8,500 students from government and private schools across the region and will continue till August 6.

The festival is being organised by Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF) and SPIC MACAY in collaboration with Delhi Public School Chandigarh and Dass and Brown Experiential Learning School, Panchkula. Conceived in line with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the initiative aims to use cinema as an effective pedagogical tool to promote creativity, critical thinking, empathy and experiential learning.

Additional Director, CCF, Col Chaddha, along with CCF members Ambuj, Kavita Das, Prof Nandita and Jasmeet, were present at the inaugural ceremony.

Welcoming the gathering, Bal Film Mahotsav convenor and DPS Chandigarh and Mohali director Reema Dewan said thoughtfully curated films can help nurture empathy, cultural awareness, values and analytical thinking among children. She said the festival seeks to encourage students to view cinema not merely as entertainment but as a medium for reflection, dialogue and lifelong learning.

Addressing the students, Prerna Puri urged them to watch films with a learning mindset and imbibe positive values from the stories they watch. She encouraged them to become the best version of themselves and shared inspiring personal anecdotes, drawing an enthusiastic response from the audience.

The organisers said the festival has been designed to promote visual literacy through carefully selected films, followed by interactive discussions and reflection sessions. They added that the event provides a unique platform for students to experience the educational power of cinema while fostering creativity, communication skills and social awareness.

The festival will feature curated film screenings, expert-led discussions and interactive sessions over the next four days, offering young participants an engaging blend of learning and entertainment.