New Delhi: Leading environment and wildlife films from across the world would be screened as part of the CMS Vatavaran film festival that opens here this week.

The 6th edition of the five-day event beginning December 6 and screening 114 films picked up from 15 countries would be opened by eminent conservationists George Shaller and A J T Johnsingh and will be witnessed by film luminaries like Shyam Benegal, Prakash Jha and Basu Chatterjee.

Organised by CMS Vatavaran, the theme of the festival is "Biodiversity Conservation", which also happens to be in sync with the forthcoming Convention on Biological Diversity, in October 2012.

Highlight of the programme would be a children's section at the National Science Centre at Pragati Maidan, which is expected to see participation from more than 50 schools. "Eighteen Indian and nine international awards worth Rs 15 lakhs would be given on the occasion," the organisers said in a statement.