Acclaimed Nepali film director, musician and singer Mr Anmol Gurung, from North Bengal, inaugurated the festival at Salesian College Siliguri just as Los Angeles Salesians hosted the Global Youth Film Awards in the picturesque foothills of Hollywood.

“These films serve as a poignant canvas, capturing the myriad emotions, trials, tribulations, dreams, and aspirations of young people,” said Festival Director in Siliguri Salesian Father C.M. Paul.

Father Paul said, “They [films] also show the profound desire of youth worldwide to foster peace and solidarity through the universal language of love.”

The opening film at Salesian College Siliguri was the competition entry by Mass Communication and Journalism students entitled 'Red’ depicting the need to accept faith differences and live in love, peace and solidarity.

Mass Communication and Journalism students of North Bengal University and Siliguri College are at the festival.

Coordinated from Salesian Headquarters in Rome, the festival received 540 entries from young filmmakers from 40 countries. In the initial screening, a regional jury evaluated the submissions, resulting in the selection of 52 films from 22 countries competing in the final leg of the competition.

The grand finale will be held in Don Bosco Los Angeles on the 13th and 14th of October.

Among the 52 films competing, 17 hail from the Asia-Pacific region, including 11 entries from India, five from Thailand, and one from Vietnam.

Salesians of Don Bosco Institutions across 134 countries are hosting global youth film festivals simultaneously on the 13th and 14th of October. Kolkata Province is hosting the festival in 11 venues, including two venues in Nepal and one in Bangladesh.