It’s been an exhilarating day at the NID campus with the first of its kind Student Animation Festival happening in India. Activities that followed the inauguration by NID Director, Dr. Darlie O Koshy included presentations, screenings and creative exchanges.
The Inauguration:
CHITRAKATHA 2007, India’s very first International Student Animation Festival started off on a bright note with the inauguration by NID Director, Dr. Darlie O Koshy, followed by the traditional lighting of lamps.
Festival Director – Sekhar Mukherjee made an emotional speech about a long cherished dream having come true through CHITRAKATHA and shared how the idea of having a festival to celebrate original animated art was took shape over a cup of coffee with old friend and 1st alumnus of NID, Prakash Moorthy.
Dr. Koshy shared his views and expectations from the festival with all those present. “Animation has to be addressed on 3 levels. We have to create original stories and contemporary tales. We also need to revisit our epics and mythology and explore them with a fresh perspective. Another aspect that has not received much attention is that there are countries with no stories of their own where Indian content would be well received.
Among the others who shared their thoughts were Prakash Moorthy, Head of Animation, Miditech and Isabel Herguera, Director ANIMAC. As faculty member of the animation department at NID, Isabel shared that she has formed not just a professional but an emotional attachment as well with the students she is here to mentor for.
Dr. Koshy also announced a tie up with Autodesk for a new training course in technology at NID details of which will be announced later.