Film Industry to bestow CineKind Awards, Honouring Films That Champion Kindness Towards Animals
The Indian film industry has decided to celebrate cinema that promotes compassion towards animals, thanks to a new initiative jointly launched by the Film Federation of India (FFI) and People for Animals (PFA).
The inaugural CineKind Awards will take place in Kolkata on December 20, where 10 films and personalities will be honoured for their contributions.
From next year, the ceremony will become an annual fixture, the organisers confirmed.
The awards were officially announced in New Delhi by Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, chairperson of PFA, alongside Firdausul Hassan, president of FFI.
Both leaders emphasised the growing need to recognise storytellers who spark empathy and promote humane values through cinema.
According to the organisers, CineKind seeks to spotlight not only film industry professionals but also individuals from diverse fields whose impactful work inspires kindness and moral awareness in society.
The awards will span mainstream Hindi cinema as well as regional films, provided the productions are Indian.
Examples of shortlisted films include the acclaimed Kannada movie 777 Charlie, featuring a Labrador dog in a heartfelt story about companionship between a lonely worker and a stray dog, and the 2025 Tamil film Kooran.
Speaking at the event, Hassan highlighted the influence of films: “Movies have unmatched power — they stir emotions, reshape beliefs, and ignite change. With CineKind, we want kindness to shine just as brightly on screen as action or drama.”
Gandhi echoed this sentiment, saying, “Films shape how we feel and think. We laugh, we cry, we experience life through them.
But what happens when a film asks us to think about those who cannot speak for themselves? CineKind aims to bring those stories into the light. Every frame that honours kindness counts.”
A collaboration between FFI and PFA, CineKind aspires to promote ethical awareness in Indian cinema through awards, partnerships, and outreach activities that encourage humane storytelling.
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