Bhubaneswar, April 21: As the scorching heat continues to beat down on the state, youngsters in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar are flocking to film festivals going on in the twin cities to seek respite.

A three-day film festival began at the Idcol auditorium here today where seven international and 14 regional films will be screened. The festival - Golden Triangle International Film Festival - aims to create a platform for amateur filmmakers where they can discuss films, create networks and forge collaborations with others.

Films from countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan and regional films from Maharasthra, Assam and Karnataka will be screened at the fest. Around three Odia films - Tulasi Apa, Capital I and Spandan - will also be screened.

On the inaugural day, five films were screened. "There is hardly anything to do in this heat and watching a film is quite refreshing," said 26-year-old film enthusiast Anjana Nayak.

Prominent filmmakers such as Gadadhar Puty and Raju Mishra will attend the event and interact with the participants. "The fest will help the filmmakers exchange ideas and get contacts to work in the mainstream industry," said Puty.

The organisers plan to host the fest every year. "We plan to host it on the same days each year in one of the three Golden Triangle cities - Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark," said festival director Priya Ranjan Sahoo.

City-based organisaiton Bakul Foundation is also hosting a festival on environment - Earth Reels - simultaneously in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

"The younger generations deserve a better world and they need to know the reasons behind the environmental crisis we are in. The films we are screening, especially for children, will educate them on various ecological issues," said Bakul Foundation founder Sujit Mahapatra.

Every evening, a feature film, along with other short documentaries on climate change and water issues, are being screened. The screenings are followed by discussions with field experts.