Admission has started
Traditionally, the International Children's Television Festival will be held in Kharkiv in autumn, but today hundreds of children are preparing to take part in it already. According to the organizing committee of the International Children's Television Festival "Dytiatko", 248 entries of 223 participants from 53 countries of the world have arrived to participate in it in 2015. Most works were received from members of the USA - 37, from Great Britain- 17, Iran - 15, France and Canada – 13 each, from Brazil - 11 and India -12. The leaders in the number of submitted works are such nominations as “Best Short Film for Children” - 100 works and “Best Animated Film for Children” - 86 works. Works will be accepted by the end of June.
Students from the Center for Creative Development “Art Holst”(“Art Canvas”) started working at the feature film-sketch about Kharkiv, the achievements of its citizens that is called “Natkhnennyi Kosmosom” (“Inspired by space”). Will they have time to take part in the seventh “Dytiatko”? It depends on how soon they will be able to finish work on the film. Now adults are looking for financial support to implement youth ideas.
Last year “Art Holst”(“Art Canvas”) represented by five 14-15 year old pupils Taisiia Poteriaiko, Anastasiia Petrova, Yuliia Khudolii, Dariia Vasiachka, Demyd Shynkarenko and their mentor Svitlana Koniukhova won in the nomination “Best Documentary Film of Children's Television Studio” for the film “The war was the day before yesterday”.
Debut that won all hearts
The authors dedicated the film to the 70th anniversary of the Victory Day. The children showed what the younger generation knows about the Great Patriotic War and what their attitude is to this topic. You get immensely impressed with such film footage as refusal of people passing by simply to talk about the Great Patriotic War, when students can’t tell the dates of war outbreak, can’t name the main battles, hero cities, generals, the number of losses that were brought with devastating confrontation... Interview with the veterans who talk about what they saw, how scary it was, how they fought and survived is like a reminder in the movie.
“This is our first work, but it turned out to be so serious and meaningful. The children approached this case very seriously and they set themselves up for something worthwhile. And the topic itself was designed for intellectual as well as emotional participation, immersion in it”, Svitlana Koniukhova the head of the center said.
“Art Holst”(“Art Canvas”) created that film back in 2013. At that time the authors could not even guess how relevant it will be today. The film of young creators is a reminder that the greatest tragedy of the world should not happen again.
When preparing the film the children learnt to work with historical sources, adopted basics of journalism and camerawork.
About the serious things
The authors of the film say that such festivals similar to "Dytiatko" are vital in the modern world. In their opinion, first of all, it is a cultural exchange that helps people and children enrich spiritually understand different worldview. Secondly, it is a great support of children's on-screen creativity.
“If there are no such Television Festival, places for children’s expression, there will be no incentive for children to create anything, to develop in this direction”, Svitlana Koniukhova says.
Svitlana’s studio, just like dozens of the similar studios in Ukraine, is now waiting for government support. The approval of any government programs, grants, and conduction of such Children Television Festivals is the opportunity for them to stay on their feet.
“The culture should be cherished from childhood, adolescence, and television is a part of our culture”, Svitlana Koniukhova says.
Meanwhile, the woman and her pupils are hoping to complete the film being started, to shoot their own television program and to conquer not just another "Dytiatko", but other international festivals in France, Russia and Spain.
