Bhubaneswar, Jan. 14: The 10th National Film Festival on Art and Artists will begin here tomorrow at the Idcol auditorium with an aim to highlight local crafts.

The rich diversity of the state and a number of dying art forms will be showcased through the films. Around 30 films selected from over 100 entries will be screened this year.

Among the films to be screened, about seven are from Odisha and the rest from across the country. Two international films will also be screened, and a few animation films by foreign students are also in the list.

Some of the films that are worth mentioning are Pattachitra by Purnendu Pattrea on the artists' communities of the state and Madhavi Mudgal by Avinash Pasricha on the dance form Odissi.

Other popular films to be screened include The Seventh Walk, a film on eminent artist Paramjit Singh by Amit Dutta, Adoor: A Journey in Frames, a film on award-winning film-maker Adoor Gopalakrishnan by Rajiv Mehrotra and Vincent van Gogh on the renowned Dutch artist by Suzanne Timmer from Denmark.

A film by students of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bhubaneswar, on the popular Tarakasi or filigree works of Cuttack will be a major highlight.

The three-day fest organised by the JD Centre of Art gives young and veteran film-makers a platform to showcase their talent. A number of documentaries will also be showcased. Audience here can also interact with noted directors.

A digital film-making workshop will be conducted by Nandan Saxena and Kavita Bahl. The event also includes a miniature exhibition of Odisha handloom and crafts and interaction sessions with artists and youngsters.

"We had received many inquiries about participation from artists and art schools from all across the country," said festival director Biren Das.

Artist Jatin Das, who conceptualised the festival, said: "The event aims to increase awareness about the latest condition of the art scene of the country through films." He is setting up an art centre near Khandagiri on around one acre.

"The concrete columns are up and we are trying to speed up the work. The art collection for the centre is being studied, researched, documented, conserved and catalogued. Once the construction is over, we will display the works there," said Das.

He has also written to the state government to provide another acre to expand the centre.

"The centre will be an activity unit instead of just an art museum," said Das. Architect Balakrishna V. Doshi made the centre's design.