The inauguration of the 12th Kolkata International Children’s Film Festival was done in the presence of Sandip Ray, Eminent Filmmaker, Goutam Ghose, Eminent Filmmaker, Chandrima Bhattacharya, HMOS Finance, Health & Family Welfare, Land & Land Reforms, Refugee & Rehabilitation, Indranil Sen, HMOS I&CA, Arpita Ghosh, Chairperson, Shishu Kishore Akademi, and others.

The festival was inaugurated by Avinav Barua (the child actor of Nayan Rahasya).

There was an opening song by Rabispandan.

The festival theme is Treasure Hunt.

Sonar Kella, directed by Satyajit Ray, was the inaugural film, while the closing film is  Pokkhirajer Dim, by Soukarya Ghoshal.

Special Sections this year:

1) Treasure Hunt and Adventure Films

2) Feluda 60- Celebrating 60 years of Feluda

3) Centenary Tribute – Salil Chowdhury (Marjina Abdulla), Santosh Dutta (Joi Baba Felunath), Tripti Mitra (Manik) at Sisir Mancha on 26th January

4) Bengali Panorama Films- Classics & recent movies.

5) Indian Language Films- Award-winning films and other films.

6) World Cinema- Films from 32 countries.

7) Sports Films- Films that have inspired young minds to embrace the spirit of unity and brotherhood through sports.

8) Ektara Mukto Mancha- All-time Classics at 6 p.m.

9) Shorts & Documentaries

10) Mobile Films- Films made by children in workshops organized by Shishu Kishore Akademi.

Exhibition: Guptodhoner Abhijane at Gaganendra Shilpapradarshashala, daily, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Quiz on Children’s Films- 25th January, 2026 at Ektara Mukta Mancha.

The film festival will continue till 29 January. 2026.

Priyanka Dutta