New Delhi [India]: The Filmy Kaafila Film Festival is gearing up to take place this Sunday at the Jamia Hamdard campus in New Delhi. Curated by Professor Farhat Basir Khan, the festival aims to give a platform to children and youth from low-income and marginalized backgrounds, allowing them to tell their stories through powerful 5-minute films.
The festival is a collaboration among the Hamdard Learning and Welfare Society (HLWS), Manzil, FilmArt, and Manzil Media Lab.
- Hamdard Learning and Welfare Society (HLWS): The sponsoring body of Jamia Hamdard, HLWS has been at the forefront of empowering underserved communities through education, employment, and welfare initiatives since its founding in 1972.
- Manzil: A youth-led non-profit organization founded in 1998, Manzil focuses on children and youth from low-income backgrounds. Over 15,000 young individuals have benefited from their programs, which also foster social entrepreneurial initiatives.
- FilmArt: A social film production company established by Manzil alumni, FilmArt has taught filmmaking to over 700 students, promoting social awareness through cinema.
- Manzil Media Lab: Launched in 2022, this lab equips youth from underserved communities with essential media skills. In the 2023-24 academic year, 94 students graduated, with many going on to pursue careers in the media industry.
Speaking about the festival, Professor Farhat Basir Khan said, “This festival is not just about filmmaking. It is a movement that empowers youth from marginalized communities to share their voices, their struggles, and their dreams with the world. Their stories deserve to be heard, and their creativity deserves to be celebrated.”
The Filmy Kaafila Film Festival will begin at 2:30 pm on Sunday at the HAH Auditorium, Jamia Hamdard