CURTAIN RAISER PROGRAMME OF THE CHILDREN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (CIFF) HELD
Panaji: January 5, 2026
The Curtain Raiser Programme of the Children’s International Film Festival (CIFF) 2026 was held through two dedicated sessions at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao today.
The programme witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 550 participants representing schools from all over Goa, including Heads of Institutions, teachers and PTA members
The curtain raiser was graced by Minister for PWD, Shri Digambar Kamat, eminent film producer and actor Shri Damodar (Damu) Naik; Deputy Director of the Department of Education, Smt. Sindhu Prabhu Desai; Information Assistant, Department of Information and Publicity, Shri Siddhesh Samant, along with Festival Directors Shri Bipin Khedekar and Shri Siddhesh Naik.
Both sessions of the curtain raiser followed a well-curated and engaging format. The programme commenced with the screening of vibrant reels and glimpses from BCIFF 2025, offering the audience an exciting preview of the festival’s inspiring journey and its celebration of meaningful cinema for children.
This was followed by a detailed presentation on BCIFF 2026 by the Festival Director, Shri Bipin Khedekar, who briefed the attendees about the upcoming edition, highlighting its national and international film screenings, competitions for children and parents, creative workshops, master classes by renowned filmmakers and interactive activities designed to nurture imagination, storytelling and cinematic appreciation among young minds.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Shri Digambar Kamat emphasized that the success and long-term impact of the Children’s International Film Festival largely depend on the active involvement of parents and teachers. He underlined their crucial role in guiding children towards meaningful cinema, encouraging creative exploration, and creating an environment where children can freely express ideas, emotions, and imagination. He stated that initiatives like CIFF become truly impactful when schools and families work together to nurture creativity, values, critical thinking, and cultural sensitivity in children.
Shri Damodar (Damu) Naik spoke about the importance of positive, value-driven cinema, highlighting how well-crafted films can influence children’s perspectives, sensitivity and understanding of society.
Deputy Director of Education, Smt. Sindhu Prabhu Desai, appreciated the enthusiastic participation of schools and acknowledged BCIFF as an effective educational and creative platform that complements classroom learning and encourages holistic development through art and cinema
The vote of thanks was delivered by Information Assistant, Shri Siddhesh Samant, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Heads of Institutions, teachers and PTA members from schools across Goa for their continued support and participation. He formally invited all attendees to be a part of the Children’s International Film Festival 2026, scheduled to be held from 13th to 17th January 2026 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
The successful conduct of the two-session curtain raiser programme ensured wider outreach and meaningful engagement with different groups, effectively setting the stage for CIFF 2026 and reaffirming the festival’s commitment to nurturing young minds through cinema, creativity, collaboration and cultural enrichment.
Contact Details:
8669990138 / 8669990139 – For inquiries related to festival and competitions.
DI/NB/AXP/SS/2025/1101