Amid statehood uncertainties and protests, Hyderabad has been selected as the venue for the 18th International Children’s Film Festival-2013 this time again.

Hyderabad is supposed to be the permanent venue for the film festival but because of the turbulent political situation in the state, the decision on this year’s fest had been kept pending for some time. But the Children’s Film Society India (CFSI) has now been given the assurance that the festival would be organized in the city itself.

M Dana Kishore, managing director, A P Film, Television and Theater Development Corporation, who is also doubling as the vice-chairman and chief coordinator of the film festival, told TOI on Wednesday that preparations for the event are in progress. He said the festival, which is to be held from November 14 to 20, may not be held at Shilparamam, like in 2011 when it was held in make-shift theaters put up there. “We have the Lalitha Kala Thoranam and we will also finalize some other theaters,” he said.

A 35-member organizing committee has also been constituted, with the chief secretary as the chairman. The co-chairmen will be Bimal Julkha, secretary, ministry of information and broadcasting and Amole Gupte, chairman, Children’s Film Society India. Various state departments will also be involved as the festival has been declared as a government event to be co-hosted by the ministry of information and broadcasting.