PUNE: Film festivals on health-related subjects help remove the misconceptions and superstitions from the minds of people opined Dr Abhijit Vaidya, Founder of Aarogya Sena. He was speaking at the inauguration function of the 12th Aarogya Film Festival organized by P M Shah Foundation at NFAI today. Festival Director Adv. Chetan Gandhi and entrepreneur Satish Kondhalkar were also present on the occasion. The festival will conclude tomorrow (Feb 24, 2024)

Dr Vaidya said, “While taking healthcare to the grassroots all across the country through Aarogya Sena, it has been noticed that less literate villagers are more sensitive than the highly educated citizens. Moreover, it has also been observed that there is still not much awareness about healthcare in society. There are more misconceptions as the scientific approach has still not reached the society at large in our country. So, to create awareness about important subjects related to healthcare such film festivals could prove to be an important platform.”

Adv Chetan Gandhi who has been instrumental in organizing the Aarogya Film Festival, one of its kind festival of health subjects related short films and documentaries said, “Over 40 short films and documentaries have been chosen to showcase in this festival that is on topics related to health and sanitation like mental health, child abuse, child health, women, social health and cancer“.

Members of the film selection committee Anuja Deodhar, Vinay Jawalgikar, Sukhada Khisti, and Jayashree Deodhar were felicitated on the occasion. Representatives of five schools that are successfully running the school sanitation program of the P M Shah Foundation were also felicitated at the hands of Dr Vaidya during this program These schools include Chandrakant Darode Primary School, HHCP Girls School, Gagangiri Primary School, Gagangiri English medium school and Karmaveer Bhaurao Hire Highschool. Moika Joshi was the anchor for the inaugural session of the 12th Aarogya Film Festival.

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PUNE: With the overwhelming response received over the years, the Pune-based P. M. Shah Foundation is back with the 12th edition of ‘The Aarogya Film Festival’ featuring a bouquet of national and international documentaries based on varied aspects of health. The two-day film festival is being held at NFDC-National Film Archives of India, Law College Road, Pune. Entry to the festival is free for all on a first come first served basis.

Speaking about the initiative Adv Chetan Gandhi, Festival Director said, “We have seen that film as a medium makes a greater impact on the minds of today’s youth when it comes to creating awareness of any sort. Health is one such aspect that needs maximum reach and hence we have been organizing this distinctive film festival namely the ‘Aarogya Film Festival’ since 2010. As has been done over the years, this year as well we hope to help create awareness on issues relating to health and hygiene.”

The opening ceremony of the festival will begin with the inauguration at the hands of Chief Guest Dr Abhijit Vaidya-National Chief Arogya Sena and Founder Director of Smita Patil International Film Festival on Friday 23rd February at 2 pm. The festival will then showcase short films and documentaries up to 6 pm.

Day two will screen films from 10 am to 4.30 pm followed by the festival’s closing ceremony in the presence of the Chief Guest Virendra Valsangkar-Renowned National Award-Winning Film Maker. The top three films in the ‘Short Film’ and ‘Documentary’ categories will also be awarded during the closing ceremony with a memento and a certificate.

P. M. Shah Foundation has been organizing this unique film festival since 2009 to provide a platform for creative minds and young filmmakers from across the globe to showcase their work related to awareness creation on topics relating to health. In its 12th edition this year, the festival will showcase 40 films in two formats – short films and documentaries covering a wide range of topics including mental health, child health, child sexual abuse, women’s health issues, organ donation, cancer, public health, hygiene, disabilities, senior citizen’s health issues and much more.

This year the festival has received over 145 applications of films and documentaries from Indian and International filmmakers. Entries came in from across India, Dubai, Australia, Germany, USA, Pakistan, Algeria, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Sénégal, Philippines, France, Sultanate of Oman, England and Iran. The shortlisting from these entries was done by an eminent jury comprising Anuja Deodhar, a teacher and a social activist, Vijay Javalgikar, a well-known filmmaker, and Shukhada Khisti, a mental health expert. The festival will screen films that are in different languages with English subtitles.

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