Bhubaneswar, Dec. 7: City students have made the state proud by winning national awards for their films. More students are taking up film direction as the CBSE is emphasising on extra-curricular activities.

The SAI International School students bagged the best film (school student section) award at the 3rd Delhi Short International Film Festival for their seven-minute short film titled Fairytale Wall.

The film is about students who design a sensory wall for the visually-impaired students and help them understand a story using their sense of hearing and touch.

The students of SAI International School teamed up with their partner school Winterbourne International Academy from Bristol, UK, to make the film.

The story was written in English and then translated into Odia.

Students of ODM Public School won the second prize for their movie Prayas in the National Youth Film Festival organised by Nehru Bal Sangh, New Delhi.

The film stars students of the school. 'One would not believe that the actors are first timers,' said Debaranjan Samal, director of the film.

Samal, who won the award for the best director, said that more and more schools should come forward to engage students in filmmaking.

'Often schools are reluctant to invest money in such initiatives, but it is extremely beneficial for the students,' he said.

The short film depicted freedom from poverty, corruption, illiteracy and discrimination and was selected from around 400 entries from across India.

The panel of judges consisted of renowned director of Hollywood animation industry Ashish Kulkarni and many others.

'We are excited to get the award and the cash prize of Rs 15,000. We have decided to showcase this film at various national and international youth film festivals. We also want to many more films in future,' said Umesh Surya Prakash, one of the students who acted in the film.

The DAV Public School, Chandrashekharpur, is also in the process of making films. 'We are planning a workshop on photography for our students. Of late, a lot of students are showing interest in photography. With more than 400 film competitions every year, we must try our best to provide a platform to our students,' said a senior teacher of the school.