Bhubaneswar, March 23: An array of short film festivals has provided the young film-makers with a platform to showcase their thoughts and opinions on various issues.

Most of the film festivals, organised in the city recently, focused on issues such as environmental concerns and those related to children and women. Last week, an organisation, Aaina, held Kallola, a film festival on child rights.

The festival witnessed youths from diverse backgrounds sending their entries on the theme - Ending Violence against Children. The organisers received around 27 films made on issues such as child labour, child sexual abuse, child marriage and corporal punishment.

Aaina secretary Sneha Mishra said such contests helped garner the creative pursuits of young minds. "We hope that the young film-makers will see such platforms as a means to make an impact on the community and it would help them build a better and safer society for children. The films will be used to sensitise a larger audience and generate discussion and debate on such issues," said Mishra.

The C.V. Raman College of Engineering had also organised a short film contest last month. It included categories such as sound designing and editing. "I have been interested in sound engineering since childhood and I took it up as my career. This festival gave me a platform," said Suraj Samal, who won the best sound award in the contest for the film Toothpaste-2.

Youths feel such film festivals also help them broaden their knowledge base. "Taking part in such contests gives me a chance to watch other films. I can compare those to improve myself. Besides, you never know if a jury member would like your film and offer you to work," said Anjuman Nayak, a young film-maker.

Such events also give the film-makers a chance to interact with the experts in the field. "I have been to a number of film festivals and interacted with young film-makers. They are quite inquisitive and ask me about camera angles and the importance of script. More youngsters should take part in film contests to meet like-minded people and discuss the art," said film-maker Gadadhar Puty.