Kamineni inaugurates film fete; winners to get cash awards

Palacole: AP Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas inaugurated the ‘Ksheerapuri International Short Film Festival’ here at Ramachandra Garden on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister said that Palacole has a rich history of giving some of the most talented artists to the Telugu film industry and now the onus lies on the current generation to take it up further.

The Health Minister praised out the organiser of film festival Mutyala Srinivas and his team for making good arrangements at this short film festival Health and hoped that the film festival would prove to be a grand success.

Speaking on the occasion, Endowments Minister Pydikondala Manikyala Rao said that short film festivals would build awareness in the society. Besides, such festivals help in nurturing the young talent too, said Manikyala Rao.

Rajya Sabha member Thota Sitaramalakshmi who participated in the film festival unveiled her plans to start a film school at Palacole.

The new film school will help in reviving the artistic talent and creativity in the town, said Sitaramalakshmi. TDP’s MLC and Govt Whip Angara Ramamohan, MLC Meka Seshubabu, municipal council opposition leader Edla Tataji lauded the efforts of film festival committee in bringing the international film festival at Palacole.

Film producer Kondeti Suresh and others also addressed the inaugural ceremony of film festival.

Detailing the film festival programme, the organisers of the film festival said that 15 films are shortlisted for screening.

The first prize for the best short film will be given a cash prize of Rs.60,000, Rs.50,000 for the second prize and Rs.20,000 for the third prize.

Apart from this, each shortlisted film is going to collect Rs.5,000 as a promotional prize . Film festival committee members Dr KSPN Varma, Dr Kesiraju Ramprasad, Ravuri Venkata Apparao, Hanumantha Rao, MS Vasu and others addressed the opening of the ceremony.