Imphal, May 22: Amid thunderous applause from the audience to presentations by young programme anchors the second edition of the five day Children Film Festival began at Asha Cinema today.

Reflecting their tender age there was sign of stage fright when the children anchors delivered speech, called-up dignitaries and staged cultural items.

Evidently impressed by the children's performance were the opening ceremony dignitaries Dr M Nara (MLA), Assistant Administrative officer of Children's Film Society of India (CFSI), Art and Culture Commissioner P Bhorot Singh and prominent filmmaker A Syam Sharma.

The stage was literally set on fire with class V student Princy Yurembam and another Fourth standard student Rasmi Samom in traditional attires anchoring the show with presentation of a brief note on the festival in front of a capacity audience.

On being called up to the stage the dignitaries were escorted by nursery students one after another while a group of KG students in school uniforms presented bouquets.

Later an all-children troupe staged different synchronized Manipuri dances.

Gurumayam Devika Devi, a child artiste on stage left the gathering soul searching with her piercing message "we don't lack talent but we lack opportunities".

Devika, a Balshree awardee, lauded the festival co-hosts Manipur Film Development Corporation and CFSI expressing that such a venture would consistently encourage enthusiastic child artistes and children filmmakers in their chosen works.

lauding the young performers Art and culture director Dr Sorojini Devi also put the parents at the loftiest height saying the elders deserve all the accolades for their vision and effort in grooming their wards.

In his inaugural address chief guest Dr M Nara Singh proclaimed "They are the wealth of the nation and we are simply the borrower of their wealth because they are the future of the society".

To organisers of the festival, Anthony d'Souza assured he will propose in the governing body meeting of the society for holding another children film festival in the state in a more grandeur manner soon.

filmmaker Syam Sharma emphasised on the need to churning out more children films.

director of many award-winning films Syam Sharma expressed that children films should be manifestation and imbibed with cultural ethos rather than setting sight on commercial yield.

Eminent writer Maharaj Kumari Binodini and Manipuri film actress of yesteryears Roma Devi also spoke on the occasion.

On day one of the festival a Manipuri feature film entitled "Paari" was screened.

The film depicts a small boy's immense love and care towards Sangai a rare bow antlered deer found only in Manipur.

The 35 mm film mostly revolve round Keibul Lamjao, a floating national park and home of Sangai.

Besides Paari six selected children's films � Summer with the ghosts (Austria-Canada), Herbie Fully Loaded (UK), The boy who wanted to be a bear (Denmark), Wolf Summer (Germany), Zafir (Denmark) and Daddy day care (UK) would be screened at three different halls in the state capital.

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