Community Radio Video Challenge 2017

May 17, 2017, New Delhi – Film Screening and Award Ceremony was held in India International Centre, New Delhi for the 4th edition of Community Radio Video Challenge (CRVC). Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia had announced the fourth edition of CRVC for all students pursuing UG/PG/Diploma in media. The theme for CRVC 2017 was “Community Radio for Sustainable Development” with an objective of engaging Indian youth with community radio (CR), creating awareness, and fostering an understanding of CR’s importance for the self-expression, learning and development of local communities.

CEMCA received 50 entries from all over India in various regional languages right from Kashmiri to Malayalam. A panel was constituted internally to scrutinize the films and check for eligibility of the films. Of the 50 entries, 30 short films fulfilled all the required criteria of acceptance which were presented to a panel of distinguished jury who further evaluated them on the following four parameters:  Overall impact (persuasive, informational, educational), Originality and creativity (concepts, ideas, format), Relevance and clarity of message & Technical proficiency and quality. The jury met on May 8, 2017 in India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi who watched the films collectively and meticulously one by one, and scored each film independently. The scores were consolidated and averaged. The jury was chaired by Dr. Ashok Ogra and had Dr. R. Sreedher as Co-Chairman. The other members on the panel were Ms. Neeti Sarkar, Director MIB, Ms. Ruby Kapoor, Theatre Artist, Mr. Rohit Sachdeva, Radio Jockey, Mr. Rakesh Khar, GM, TV 18 and Ms. Novel Lavasa, Artist & Photographer. Mr. R. Thyagarajan was Member Secretary of the Jury.

On May 17, 2017 the films were screened to all the participants who travelled to Delhi. Cash prizes were given to winners from all over the country. Dr. Rasool, Director CEMCA, welcomed all participants and guests informing them the three fold objective of the competition – one to create awareness about CR among the youth, two to make youth aware of UN-SDGs and the third is to encourage the art of film making among the media students. Prof. Ashok Ogra, Chairman of the Jury informed the gathering about the importance and history of CRVC. The Guest of honour for the occasion Sri Aashish Joshi, CEO Lok Sabha TV talked about his personal involvement in CR Awareness workshops and offered to screen all the award winning films in Lok Sabha TV. The Chief Guest for the occasion Dr. Suresh, DG, IIMC spoke passionately about the need for Community Journalism and the power of Community Radios. He informed the gathering that he has now mandated a chapter on Community Radio in all the curriculum of Mass Media and Journalism across the country so that awareness about this tool of social development increases. The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Thyagarajan, Head Admin & Finance, CEMCA.