Lucknow:
The fifth National Science Film Festival and Competition will be held in Lucknow in February next year, the Department of Science and Technology said on Sunday.
The festival, scheduled from February 4 to 8, would screen movies based on health, environment, science and technology and has been organised by Department of Science and Technology, National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) and Ministry of Culture.
The National Science Film Festival and Competition is aimed to felicitate, recognise and encourage science film producers and production of S&T related films/videos.
Vigyan Prasar, national communication institute of science and technology under the DST, which works to promote science in the country through educational means, has also called for movies, which could be screened at the festival.
The other attraction of the programme is a three-day conference on Science Documentary Film making in India where renowned science film directors/producers will share their experience in addition to the various academic sessions for upcoming science film makers and students.
Professional film makers from private TV channels, production houses and government agencies, universities and media houses can apply their films based on science, nature, environment, health and technology.
Students of classes VI to XII and University/College students are also invited to send their films in the festival and competition.
Last date to submit the films is December 31.
"For more details of the film festival, film makers may visit the website www.vigyanprasar.gov.in," Nimish Kapoor, scientist at Vigyan Prasar and a coordinator of the film festival said.
The competition will have Golden Beaver award consisting of cash prize of Rs 1,00,000, Silver Beaver award consisting of Rs 50,000 and Bronze Beaver award of Rs 30,000.
Special Award for Technical Excellence of Rs 20,000 for cinematography, editing, graphics/animation/special effects and sound recording and design will be given.
There is also a Special Jury Award of Rs 40,000.
Noted film maker and poet Muzaffar Ali will inaugurate the film festival in Regional Science City, Lucknow.
Famous film director and Chanakya fame Chandra Prakash Dwivedi will also be present as National Jury Chair during the festival.
National Science Film Festival and Competitions were earlier held in Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and Bangalore in January 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.