by Sita Iyer for BIS Mumbai

The Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival (DBGYFF) took place in almost 136 countries in multiple locations with forums and meet-ups, featuring new and established voices.

The DBGYFF Season 3 brought together young people worldwide, aiming to educate and empower under the theme “I HAVE A DREAM,” in the context of Youth & Climate Change - Making Mother Earth Cleaner & Greener. The festival provides a platform for the youth to showcase their boundless dreams, whether they are personal or for society. DBGYFF ignites the spirits of the youth, fostering positivity. This inspiration empowers them to dream of a better world and actively work to bring that vision to life.

The main objective of this Film Festival is to offer a very entertaining and acceptable meeting point for all like-minded young people to come together to get informed, learn, share, have fun and move towards a positive life. The festival received an astounding response of 1287 submissions from 110 countries, out of which 120 films were shortlisted, which were to be showcased to audiences across 136 countries on  October 17th & 18th 2024.

DBGYFF Season 3 in the Mumbai Province was hosted by the Department of Mass Media, Don Bosco, Kurla, Mumbai in their campus on October 18, 2024 from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm. The festival began with the Inauguration Ceremony which was held at Mondini Hall, Fourth Floor, DBCL building. The Chief Guest for the Inauguration was Fr Ashley Miranda, Vice Provincial of the Mumbai Province, and the ceremony was graced by the presence of Fr. Tony, Fr. Nelson, Fr. Brian, Fr. Joyston and Mr Joy Fernandes. It was hosted by Mr. Satyam Upadhyay and Ms. Zaheen Rukshi, who are mass media students.

The shortlisted films were screened at two venues – Mondini Hall on the 4th floor and the DOMM Theatre on the 5th floor, across four slots of one hour each, followed by 20 minutes of discussions. The film-makers were also felicitated during the screenings. 

The program consisted of many entertaining performances and student interactions between the film screenings. A photo booth was placed outside both the theatre and the hall for the audience to click photos.  

The Film Festival was a resounding success, with a total audience of more than 1,000 who participated in the film screenings across the day. It was highly successful in meeting its objectives of providing a platform for student filmmakers, fostering creativity, and enhancing the educational experience of the students. This event has contributed significantly to the professional development of students and has further established DBGYFF as a leader in nurturing young talent.

The Department of Mass Media, Kurla, Mumbai had submitted 3 entries into the festival, of which 2 were shortlisted and 1 animated film – Wake up, by Ms Aastha Kamble and team, was one of the Winners at the Regional Level.