The tenth edition of science film festival of India opens in a virtual mode. Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous agency under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has been organizing this festival as a part of its science popularization endeavor.

The festival – during November 24-27, 2020 – offers a platform to showcase the science films made by professionals, amateur, and student filmmakers under various themes.

The 4-day film festival was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura Jishnu Dev Verma on Tuesday (November 24). In his inaugural address Jishnu Dev Varma said, “Films being the most popular medium of communication can help popularize science effectively.”

He added that Northeast India in general and Tripura in particular is known for its indigenous culture and rich biodiversity. “The initiative to take science to the common people through films in the region is commendable. It will help in the development of scientific temper among the people of this region,” Varma observed.

The national science film festival 2020 is being jointly organized by Vigyan Prasar and the Tripura State Council of Science and Technology, Government of Tripura. A total of 372 films in different languages have been received for participation in the festival this year.

A total of 115 shortlisted films selected by a 10-member jury will be screened during the festival. These include films in Hindi, English, Urdu, Malayalam, Kashmiri, Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, and Tamil languages.

Science and technology, environment, agriculture, renewable energy, water management, health and drugs, and technological innovations are some of the most explored themes in the submitted films.

The entries include documentaries, biography, short films, docu-dramas, science fiction, and animation films. These films have been made by different institutions, professionals, amateur and student filmmakers to compete under specific categories.

The names of outstanding science films to be awarded will be announced on the 27th of November, the last day of the event.