Five films — Indian and American — will be screened at the Indian Council of Cultural Relations in these two days highlighting issues related to human trafficking.

“Around 8,00,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually. 80 per cent of the victims are women. Hundreds of thousands of these women and children are trafficked into prostitution each year,” said US Consul-General Beth Payne.

The consulate in Kolkata had been conducting programmes to help educate people about trafficking. The consulate also holds workshops, film shows and discussion panels in Kolkata and across the northeast, said Payne.

The first day of the festival also saw many members signing a petition for amendments in the human trafficking laws of the country. “When we talk of trafficking, it a vicious cycle that includes poverty, the demand for flesh trade and the money involved,” said Padmashree awardee and noted dancer Gita Chandran.

The film festival was flagged off by screening Bappaditya Banerjee film, Kaal, which dealt with women trafficking.