They may be barely in their teens, but these little filmmakers are all set to take on the world with their newly-acquired celluloid skills.

Aged between 10 to 15 years, 12 children from different schools and different sections of society will soon become a part of the country's first Children's Production Team.

As a part of Children's Audio-Video production training project, the Central Institute of Education and Technology (CIET), New Delhi, will train them in all aspects film-making and encourage them to make films on issues close to their heart.

In collaboration with the State Institute of Education and Technology (SIET) and Educational Television, the six-day workshop began in Lucknow on Monday. The project is part of the annual National Children's Audio Video Festival, organised by CIET and NCERT in New Delhi.

Every year, the festival sees films made by children enter. “But from this year, it has been decided that the festival will be a collection of films made by children. And this workshop is a prelude to that,” said Manoj Shukla, senior TV producer CIET New Delhi.

This is the first time children are being taught to make short films, said Shukla “Our project will be extended to all SIETs across the country, but Uttar Pradesh is the first state where a team has been created.”

For the children, it is an opportunity to help them talk about their issues. “There are a lot of problems in my community when it comes to educating girls. Through my film, I would like to tell everyone that it is important that each and every child is educated,” said 13-year-old Nazia, who lives in Daliganj slums and studies in Taleemgaah Niswan Inter College. Nazia also works as a volunteer for Tehreek, an organisation working for the upliftment of Muslim women.

The films of Upasana, Vandana, Meenu and Renu, all students of the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Mall area in Lucknow Rural, will express their views on biases against the backwards and the scheduled castes. “We had to face bias both as girls and as Dalits. Through our films, we would like to bring a feeling of unity and equality in the society,” said one of them.

Other participating children include Rishi Jain from Mahanagar Boys Inter College, Manasi Vinay from La Martinere Girls Inter College, Arun from Ashoka Public Inter College and Udai Shankar Seeha from Parijat School. Both Arun and Udai are physically challenged.