About CMS

Education for world citizenship requires a Broader and Bolder education in the 21st century. A modern school needs to do much more than ensure good marks on a sheet.

City Montessori school popularly known as CMS is serving society creating a better future for all children since 1959. Founded by the dynamic visionary couple Late Dr Jagdish Gandhi and Dr Bharti Gandhi who were inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Saint Vinoba Bhave, CMS vision is to inspire generations of children to the motto of ‘Jai Jagat’ or “Hail the World”.


The recipient of the 2002 UNESCO Prize for Peace Education, CMS mission is to create a better future for all children by maximizing opportunities for children through value-based education that initiates and promotes world unity and world peace for generations of children to become proactive world citizens.

Its name in the Guiness World Records, City Montessori School today is the world’s largest city school with over 61,000 students on roll studying in 21 CMS campuses dotting the city of Lucknow in India.


CMS education strives towards a holistic programme that helps maximize both individual and social good.

CMS International Children’s Film Festival – CMS ICFF

Cinema has always played a powerful role in influencing society.

CMS ICFF addresses :
  • Powerful social medium of cinema: Partnership between home, school and society is strengthened effectively through the use of cinema. To reach out the larger target children’s audience, CMS organizes International Children’s Film Festival – CMS ICFF, curated on the theme: Film Festival For World Unity and World Peace.
  • In an effort to empower society: Special initiatives are being taken by CMS for a safe and secure future of the world’s children and generations yet to be born. City Montessori School has a full-fledged films division that produces meaningful educational documentaries and films produced under the ‘Jai Jagat’ banner telecast through many local, national and international channels.
  • CMS 13th International Children’s Film Festival promises to unlock enriching experiences: Through a whole gamut of feature films, short films, feature animations, animation short and documentaries procured with an aim for entertainment from all over the world, it aims to showcase the right content inculcating moral values and world wide view.
  • Non-commercial, Non-profit venture for Edutainment: It seeks just not to expand the children’s film market or encourage makers to come forward to produce entertaining yet material, human and spiritually uplifting films, it also creates a conducive environment for children to pursue film making or many such creative career paths.

Over the years the festival has garnered enough support from the Indian films and television industry also called the Bollywood with lots of child actors, actors, directors, writers, singers have patronized CMS ICFF by marking their presence during the nine day long festival. We have all the encouragement extended to us by the Chairperson of the Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI) too.

Under our founders tutelage, valuable inputs of CMS Manager, Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, able administrative stewardship of the Festival Director, CMS head of Films and Radio Division Mr R K Singh; the creative, competent and professionally skilled team with the state of the art film making and Radio programme making and broadcasting station facilities, CMS ICFF is all about empowering society with strong social message and building friendships that lasts forever.

Organising Committees

Late Dr. Jagdish Gandhi
Founder Manager, CMS

Dr. Bharti Gandhi
Founder Director, CMS

Professor Geeta Gandhi Kingdon
Manager, CMS

Mrs Susmita Ghose
Superior Principal & Head QAID, CMS

Mr. R K Singh
Festival Director and Head CMS Films & Radio Division

Mr. Srinivasa Santhanam
Festival Advisor/Programmer

Mr. Ahmed Hameed Sheikh
Deputy Programmer

Principals of all CMS Campuses

Working Committee

Mr. R K Singh

Mr. S.M.I. Rizvi

Mr. Ahmed Hameed Shaikh

Mrs. Bina Krishna

Mrs. Priyanka Dixit

Mrs Keya Banerjee Singh

Mr. Saranjeet Singh SONY

Mrs. Swamita Vidyadhar Sharma

Ms. Tanya Verma

Ms. Kirti Kumar

Awards

(i) Best Children's Feature Film The director gets a Golden trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 1,25,000/- and the producer gets a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 1,25,000/-
(ii) Best Animation Feature Film The director gets a Golden trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 1,25,000/- and the producer gets a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 1,25,000/-
(iii) Best Short Animation Film The director gets a silver trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 85,000/- and the producer gets a certificate and cash prize of ₹ 65,000/-
(iv) Best Short Film The director gets a silver trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 85,000/- and the producer gets a certificate and cash prize of ₹ 65,000/-
(v) Best Short Documentary Film The director gets a silver trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 60,000/- and the producer gets a certificate and cash prize of ₹ 40,000/-
(vi) Special Jury Award - Late Dr Jagdish Gandhi & Dr Bharti Gandhi award The director gets a Silver trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 60,000/- and the producers get a certificate & the producer gets a cash prize of ₹ 40,000/-

Rules & Regulations

FESTIVAL REGULATIONS
The Festival is being organised by the management of City Montessori School Lucknow, India.

WORLD PEACE & WORLD UNITY THROUGH EDUCATION

Objectives

The Festival aims at providing a common platform for the producers of Children's Films to project their views for proper development of children’s potential through meaningful films; and also for promoting friendship and co- operation among people of the world.

1. Date and Place:

The Festival will be held in Lucknow city from 15th - 21st April, 2024.

2. Regulations

The programme of the Festival will be divided into the following broad categories:

  • Feature Fiction
  • Short Fiction
  • Feature Animation
  • Short Animation
  • Short Documentary

3. The Festival Directorate reserves the right to exclude films which are not in conformity with aims of the Festival, or which could offend the national feelings and susceptibilities of any participating country, or are likely to promote racial discrimination or such films which may be detrimental to the cause of unity of humankind.

4. Details

  1. Films must be for children of all ages.
  2. Films must have been completed between:
    1st January, 2022 to 30th October, 2023.
  3. Eligibility period will be determined by the censorship visa/certificate of the country where the film has been produced.
  4. Entries will be subject to preview by a committee constituted by this Festival. A film which is not accepted for the Competition Section can be shown in other Section with the specific consent of the entrant.

The following prizes will be given away:

(i) Best Children Feature Film The director gets a Golden trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 1,25,000/- and the producer gets a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 1,25,000/-
(ii) Best Animation Feature Film The director gets a Golden trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 1,25,000/- and the producer gets a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 1,25,000/-
(iii) Best Short Animation Film The director gets a silver trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 85,000/- and the producer gets a certificate and cash prize of ₹ 65,000/-
(iv) Best Short Film The director gets a silver trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 85,000/- and the producer gets a certificate and cash prize of ₹ 65,000/-
(v) Best Short Documentary Film The director gets a silver trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 60,000/- and the producer gets a certificate and cash prize of ₹ 40,000/-
(vi) Special Jury Award - Dr Jagdish Gandhi & Dr Bharti Gandhi award The director gets a Silver trophy, a certificate and a cash prize of ₹ 60,000/- and the producers get a certificate and cash prize of ₹ 40,000/-

5. DVDs for Selection

DVD’s (Preferably PAL system) of films may be sent, so as to reach the Festival not later than 30th October, 2022.

The video of the film can also be sent online at cmsfilmfestival@gmail.com / cmsicff@cmseducation.org (via Film Freeway, Festhome submission platforms or through Dropbox, Vimeo or via any other downloadable link in HD quality without a Watermark with English Subtitles burned in the video).

6. Entry of films in the Festival

Film Producers, Distributors or their duly authorized representatives or duly authorized government organization / agency of the participating countries may enter their films for the competition through the enclosed Entry Form.

7. The Festival organizers reserve the right to invite films they consider suitable for the film festival.

8. The Entry Form, duly filled in, separately for each film proposed to be entered should reach through Online or through by post to the Festival Director, by 30th October, 2022.

9. Film once entered for the festival can’t be withdrawn back.

10. Freight and Other Charges

  1. The DVD’s for screening during the festival should be sent at sender’s cost by International courier.
  2. The Festival will not bear freight or any other charges for unsolicited films/ videos sent to it, if these are not selected for screening in the Festival.

11. Subtitling

Films will normally be screened in their original language/version. Films in language other than English must have subtitles in English. Films that arrive without subtitles, or with subtitles other than in English, where such subtitles are not required, shall not be screened in the Festival.

12. General

  1. Films must be suitable for children‐ content should have no explicit violence, sexual reference or coarse/obscene language.
  2. The participants must ensure that they have the right to participate in the 13th CMS International Children’s Film Festival-2024 with regard to parties connected with the production / distribution of the participating film and / or other right holders/licenses.
  3. Participation in the Festival implies acceptance of these Regulations.
  4. As a policy of the festival no screening fee is paid to the producer or distributor for screening the film in the festival.

13. Enclosures

  1. ONE copy of the ENTRY FORM
  2. Two copies of the film in DVD format with subtitles in English
  3. A Data CD consisting of
    • Synopsis of film in English
    • Film Stills (2 max.)
    • Director’s Photos

The items mentioned can be sent via email also at cmsicff@cmseducation.org or at info@cmsfilms.org

14. Films can also be sent through online, i.e. through any downloadable link in HD Quality with English subtitles burned in the video or with Srt file at cmsicff@cmseducation.org

15. The organizers of the festival reserve the right to make changes in the screening schedule of films.

Correspondence and Shipping Address

All correspondence, Publicity material, DVDs & Digital Beta should be addressed to:

The Festival Director

13th CMS International Children’s Film Festival-2024
 CMS FILMS & RADIO DIVISION,
12, Station Road, Lucknow.
Tel: +91 522-2637078, 2638738, 2638606 (Extn. 225),
Fax: 2638008, 2635497
website: http://www.cmsfilms.org/icff
E-mail: rk.singh@cmseducation.org & cmsicff@cmseducation.org

SCREENING SCHEDULE OF SELECTED FILMS

Contact Us

The Festival Director

13th CMS International Children’s Film Festival-2024
CMS FILMS & RADIO DIVISION
City Montessori School,
10, Station Road, Lucknow. 226001- INDIA.
Phones: +91 522 2638738, 2638606, 2637078
Email: cmsicff@cmseducation.org
Website: http://www.cmsfilms.org/icff/