The district AIDS control and prevention unit, Kolahpur, will be organizing a two- day international film festival to spread HIV awareness. The festival will be held from February 22, 2014 in the city. The festival, which will be organized in collaboration with Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited, will screen around eight films. This two day international film festival will be held at Shahu Smarak Bhavan, Dasara Chowk.

Laxmikant Deshmukh, managing director of Maharashtra Film Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited, will inaugurate the festival in the presence of district collector Rajaram Mane, R A R Prakash Rao, plant head of KOEL; Prashant Patil, sub-divisional officer of Karveer; and Vilas Deshpande, additional director, MSAC.

Deepa Shipurkar, programme officer of the district AIDS control and preventive unit, said, “The aim of the National AIDS Control Organization is (NACO) is to “getting to zero”. We are organizing various events in the district for the purpose. The aim of the film festival is to increase awareness about HIV among people. Along with the festival, several social organizations working in the field will set up stalls where people will get information about HIV, its impact on people and how it can be prevented. We will hold debate at the venue after screening of each film.”

The four films that will be screened on the first day (Saturday) of the festival are: Prarambh (Kannada), Yesterday, (Zulu, South Africa), Ushakal (Marathi) and Aasma (Arabic, Egypt). The second day of the festival (Sunday) will witness the screening of the following four films: Migration (Hindi), Philadelphia (English), Blood Brothers (Hindi) and Positive (Hindi).