Month: January 2025

150 films from 40 countries are being screened  

New Delhi, January 29, 2025: Ambassador of the European Union, H. E. Mr. Hervé Delphin inaugurates the 11st edition of the Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY) an initiative of Smile Foundation, in New Delhi. Mr. Delphin was accompanied by festival chairman Santanu Mishra and festival director Jitendra Mishra.

Being held in partnership with the European Union (Delegation of the European Union to India), the annual film festival is being organised between Jan 28-30, 2025 at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi, in addition to over 100 locations across India in a hybrid mode. This makes SIFFCY the largest film festival in India. 

SIFFCY 2025 opened with much acclaimed Italian masterpiece, The Tiger’s Nest, directed by Brando Quilici. Young acting sensation Sunny Pawar is in the lead, who has also earned fame for his acting brilliance in Lion and Sacred Games. The Q & A session with Sunny Pawar, which followed the opening screening, made the young audience inspired and mesmerised.

The festival is also screening many widely celebrated films, such as Lampo from Poland, Doubles Match from Taiwan, Bigman from The Netherlands, Winners from Germany, Soaring Wings from India, Greetings from Mars from Germany, 7600 from Iran, A Butterfly’s Heart from Lithuania among others.

Various creative workshops and panel discussions will be held alongside screening of curated films during the festival.

Ambassador of Finland to India, H.E. Mr. Kimmo Lähdevirta; Ambassador of Lithuania to India, H.E. Ms. Diana Mickevičienė; Ambassador of Georgia to India, H. E. Mr. Vakhtang Jaoshvili; Ambassador of Ukraine to India, H.E. Dr. Oleksandr Polishchuk; Director, Polish Institute, New Delhi, Ms. Małgorzata Wejsis – Gołębiak; and Director, Italian Cultural Centre, Mr. Andrea Anastasio were among the guests of honour.

The Ambassador of European Union to India, H.E. Mr. Hervé Delphin, addressing the young audience, said, “Cinema is a universal language, a language that talks to the youth. It is the means for young minds to explore and understand the world beyond their surroundings, learn about different cultures and give creativity new wings!” He added: “Europe and India stand as two incredible hubs of cinematographic creativity and culture! The European Union is happy to partner with SIFFCY again this year with films from over 15 EU countries. Starting from Delhi this show will go around cities in India with top movies for youth that will leave a trail of Smiles in its wake!”

“Good cinema can play a crucial role in shaping the young minds, and can even help fight issues such as depression, loneliness, and aggression that children and young adults are getting prone to,” said Mr. Santanu Mishra, SIFFCY Chairman, producer of ‘I am Kalam’ and Co-founder of Smile Foundation.

“We are excited to present the India premiere of the internationally celebrated cinematic masterpiece The Tiger’s Nest, directed by the brilliant Brando Quilici, at our festival this year. There’s much more in store for the Indian audience throughout the week-long event.” said Mr. Jitendra Mishra, SIFFCY Festival Director.

Poland is the country of honour, whereas Italy is the country of focus in SIFFCY 2025. A curated selection of some of the finest Polish and Italian films for the young audience is going to be presented during the festival.

The 11th edition of the Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY) is featuring over 150 films, that include feature films, animation, short films, and documentaries, created by professional filmmakers, children, and students from more than 40 countries. The participating countries include the USA, Australia, the UK, Germany, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Chile, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Luxembourg, Estonia, Slovenia, Sweden, Malaysia, Argentina, Colombia, Lithuania, Brazil, Iran, Ukraine, Nepal, Romania, Serbia, Korea, Singapore, Canada, Japan, Bahrain, Cuba, and India.

Major activities, from the opening ceremony to the award ceremony, are being held at the iconic Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi on 28, 29 and 30 January 2025. Simultaneously, multiple screenings and festival-related activities are scheduled in various schools and communities across 100 locations across India. Selected programmes will also be streaming on a dedicated, secured, geo-blocked virtual platform throughout the week.

The active participation of the European Union in SIFFCY 2025 is aimed at facilitating cultural exchange between the citizens of India and the European Union countries, due to which a sense of understanding, respect and global brotherhood will be strengthened. The sense of belonging that arises between people through the exchange of culture, art and ideas is beneficial for children and youth, who will shape the future course of humanity.

SIFFCY (Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth) is an initiative by Smile Foundation (www.smilefoundationindia.org) to entertain, engage, educate and empower young minds. It is based on a strong belief that good cinema represents much more than entertainment; rather this is the most powerful medium to depict the reality and emulate values. Film becomes an interesting and engaging alternative to stimulate discussion among young people about vital personal, societal, moral and world issues. https://siffcy.org/

• Reached 4,200 beneficiaries including women, adolescents and children
• The project is set to impact the lives of over 40,000 individuals across 10 villages in Kosi Kalan
• Buddhi Mishra, District Program Officer, Mathura, graced the occasion as chief guest, emphasizing the significance of collaborative efforts

Mathura, January 21, 2025: PepsiCo India, in partnership with Smile Foundation, announced the launch of ‘Pink Smile’, a project aimed at combating anaemia and malnutrition. Focused on enhancing healthcare accessibility and availability, the initiative in its early stage has impacted 4,200 beneficiaries including women, adolescents and children. Mrs. Buddhi Mishra, District Program Officer, Mathura, graced the occasion as the chief guest in the presence of dignitaries, including Mr. Sachin Sharma, Medical Officer In-charge of the Chatta block, Mr. Naresh Kumar, Development Officer of the Chatta block, and Ms. Rukmadi, Child Development Program Officer of the Nandgaon block.

Aligned with PepsiCo India’s guiding principle, “Partnership of Progress – Unnati ki Sajhedari,” the program outreach will be conducted in collaboration with frontline workers and Aanganwadis. It will also contribute to the local administration’s efforts towards Anaemia Mukt Bharat and reducing Kuposhan (malnutrition). The ‘Pink Smile’ program aims to impact over 40,000 individuals across 10 villages in Kosi, Uttar Pradesh.

In line with the government’s mission to improve maternal and child health, the ‘Pink Smile’ project seeks to address critical gaps in healthcare delivery, primarily through Mobile Medical Units (MMU) providing curative, preventive, and promotive services. Program interventions will include anemia screening, specialized teleconsultation, and nutrition distribution, set to benefit vulnerable populations—particularly women, adolescents, and children by enhancing their health-seeking behavior and providing timely interventions for anemia and malnutrition.

Yashika Singh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Sustainability Head, PepsiCo India and South Asia, shared, “The ‘Pink Smile’ project embodies PepsiCo India’s ‘Partnership of Progress’, where we work alongside organizations like Smile Foundation and local bodies to create meaningful and enduring impact in communities. This initiative goes beyond addressing anemia and malnutrition; it is a step toward building a sustainable model for healthcare access with long-term benefits. Together, we are laying the foundation for a healthier, anemia-free future for women, children, and adolescents in Uttar Pradesh.”

Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Buddhi Mishra, District Program Officer, Mathura, and the chief guest for the event, said “PepsiCo India and Smile Foundation are doing commendable work through the ‘Pink Smile’ project, addressing critical issues of anemia and malnutrition in rural India. This initiative complements the government’s ongoing efforts and strengthens the healthcare systems at the grassroots level. By working together, we can ensure timely interventions and create sustainable solutions to eradicate malnutrition and anemia, improving the health and well-being.”

The project’s multi-faceted approach includes:

• Specialized teleconsultations for women, adolescents, and children, providing them with expert medical guidance remotely.
• Anaemia screening camps that will be held fortnightly, in addition to regular health camps, to identify early cases of anemia and malnutrition.
• Nutrition education and distribution, featuring low-cost high-nutrition recipes, which will empower local communities to combat malnutrition effectively.
• Establishment of kitchen gardens to promote sustainable nutrition practices within households.
• Training of frontline workers to help raise awareness and provide necessary skills to combat anemia and malnutrition within local communities.

Santanu Mishra, Co-founder of Smile Foundation, shared, “Through the collaboration with PepsiCo India, we are seeing a direct impact on the healthcare aspects of the communities we serve. The comprehensive healthcare services provided through the Mobile Medical Unit will go a long way in complementing the government’s efforts of eradicating anemia and malnutrition, especially in rural India. It is inspiring to witness how a unified approach can help bridge gaps in augmenting access to health and awareness.”

Since its inception, the project has been received with enthusiasm from local communities, with over 478 individuals screened for anemia and 214 children screened for malnutrition. The distribution of essential nutritional support has reached 125 children in the covered villages.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and their families every year through more than a thousand welfare projects on education, healthcare, skilling, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and communities in 28 states.

About PepsiCo: 

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

New Delhi; 16 Jan 2025: Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY), hosted by Smile Foundation, in partnership with the European Union (the delegation of the European Union in India) announces the official selection for its 11th edition. The annual film festival is scheduled to take place between Jan 28-30, 2025 at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi and several other locations across India in a hybrid mode, in order to reach out to maximum young Indian audience.

Major activities, from the opening ceremony to the award ceremony, will be held at the iconic Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi on 28,29 and 30 January 2025. Simultaneously, multiple screenings and festival-related activities are scheduled in various schools and communities across a hundred locations across India. Selected programmes will also be streaming on a dedicated, secured, geo-blocked virtual platform throughout the week.

Santanu Mishra, SIFFCY Chairman and Producer of the much-acclaimed film ‘I am Kalam’, says, “Childhood is the decisive phase of human life. The lessons we learn, the habits we make as children, it stays with us forever. Therefore, it is important that we sensitise our youngsters with a positive value system, early.” He adds, “Good cinema can play a crucial role in shaping the young minds, and can even help fight issues such as depression, loneliness, and aggression that children and young adults are getting prone to.”

Official Selection SIFFCY 2025

Feature films in competition:

• Lampo – The Dog who travelled by train, by Magdalena Niec, Poland
• Doubles Match, by Hung Po-Hao, Taiwan
• Bigman, by Camiel Schouwenaar, The Netherlands
• Winners, by Soleen yusef, Germany
• Soaring Wings, by Palash Das, India
• Greetings from Mars, by Sarah Winkenstette, Germany
• 7600, by Behrooz Bagheri, Iran
• A Butterfly’s Heart, by Inesa Kurklietytė, Lithuania
• The Tiger’s Nest, by Brando Quilici, Italy
• Niko – Beyond the Northern Lights, by Kari Juusonen, Jørgen Lerdam, Finland, Germany
• The boy with pink Pants, by Margherita Ferri, Italy
• Itty Bitty Princess, By Lauri Maijala, Finland
• Teacher, Veterinarian, Astronaut, by Reynaldo Escoto, Mexico

Short films in competition:

• Above the Tamarind Tree, by Buthyna Al-Mohammadi, Qatar
• Dandelions Girl, Azadeh Masihzadeh, Iran
• Ballad of the Mountain, by Tarun Jain, India
• Skin Color, by Fidel Alfonso Barboza Gómez, Sebastián Castaño, Colombia
• Travelling Past, by Rory Power-Gibb, The United Kingdom
• Skipping Rope, by Wu Meryl, Taiwan
• Who needs Teachers? by Ekal Deep Kaur, India
• Forever Seven, by Antje Heyn, Alexander Isert, Germany
• AB OVO, by Oleksandr Viken, Stas Marchenko, Ukraine

Films nominated for Next-Gen Award (Films made by Students)

• A Dragon in name only, New Zealand
• And the boy was a bird, India
• Bedtime Guardian, The United Kingdom
• Cut the Tie, Greece
• I am Mutya and I Thank You! The Philippines
• Until the bell rings, Colombia
• The Day you were gone, France
• What is A.D.H.D, China
• Rebell, India

Poland is the country of honour, whereas Italy is the country of focus in SIFFCY 2025. A curated selection of some of the finest Polish and Italian films for the young audience is going to be presented during the festival.

Jitendra Mishra, SIFFCY Festival Director says, “We have carefully selected films from a diverse range of genres and countries of origin, ensuring that each one offers a unique narrative. Most of the feature films will have their Indian premiere at our festival, with some even making their world debut. We hope our efforts will not only showcase the best of global cinema but also inspire young audiences to think critically, broaden their horizons, and foster a deeper appreciation for the cultural, social, and emotional stories that shape our world.”

The 11th edition of the Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY) will feature over 150 films, that include feature films, animation, short films, and documentaries, created by professional filmmakers, children, and students from more than 40 countries. The participating countries include the USA, Australia, the UK, Germany, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Chile, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Luxembourg, Estonia, Slovenia, Sweden, Malaysia, Argentina, Colombia, Lithuania, Brazil, Iran, China, Russia, Ukraine, Nepal, Romania, Serbia, Korea, Singapore, Canada, Japan, Bahrain, Cuba, and India.

The selected films will be showcased in five distinct sections, viz. International Competition (both feature and short films), 70MM Smile (World Panorama), The Yellow Carpet (Indian Showcase), Next-Gen (Films made by film students), and Take One (Films made by children).

The festival will also host prestigious awards such as the ECFA Award (European Children’s Film Association), CIFEJ Award (formed under UNESCO), and the Film Critics Circle of India Award (FCCI).

SIFFCY is an initiative of Smile Foundation to entertain, engage, educate and empower young minds. It is based on a strong belief that good cinema represents much more than entertainment; rather this is the most powerful medium to depict the reality and emulate values. Film becomes an interesting and engaging alternative to stimulate discussion among young people about vital personal, societal, moral and world issues. https://siffcy.org/