While two local films -- “Guerrilla” and “Moner Manush” -- compete for the top honour, 35 more are being screening in different sections at the 12th Dhaka International Film Festival, starting on January 12. 'Tribute to Tareque Masud' and 'Bangladesh Panorama' sections naturally feature all Bangladeshi films, while local productions are also being screened in sections like 'Short and Independent', 'Spiritual' and a special segment on Rabindranath Tagore.
'Bangladesh Panorama' features eight contemporary local films, most of which are made by young filmmakers. Nurul Alam Atique's “Doobshatar”, Murad Parvez's “Chandragrahan”, Bodrul Anam Saud's “Khondo Galpo 1971”, Hasibur Reza Kallol's “Andho Nirangam” and Maruf Hossain's “…Ebong Kanna” are on the list.
“Festivals are an important platform for filmmakers and film-related people to exchange views. But what we need the most is a better atmosphere in the industry and at theatres. We should focus on regular screening of films rather than taking part in a festival,” says Atique.
“We need to focus on developments in producing and making films,” he adds.
Atique's “Doobshatar” earned plaudits last year, while Hossain's “…Ebong Kanna”, an adaptation of an Aktaruzzaman Ilias story, will be premiered at the festival before going public soon. Kallol's “Andho Nirangam” is a work on Fakir Lalon Shai's philosophy.
The 'Short and Independent' segment, that features 66 films from across the globe, includes 17 local films. “Mrittu Pare Bari”, a documentary by Razibul Hossain and a group of students from ULAB, will get its premiere at the festival. The list also includes “16 December” (by Mushfek Manzoor), “Ekatturer Padojatri” (Farid Ahmed), “A Little Nostalgia” (Shahid Azam) and “Aarshi” (Aminur Islam).
A chronological progress of Bangladeshi cinema can be observed through watching these films as most of these are made by young and aspiring filmmakers.
The 'Spiritual' section features only one film -- Shahiduzzman Badal's “Charak Puja”. 'Tribute to Rabindranath' features four films -- “Shasti” (Kazi Hayat), “Shubha” and “Kabuliwala (both by Chashi Nazrul Islam) and “Abujh Bou” (Nargis Akhter).
The 'Tribute' section features five Tareq Masud films -- “Runway”, “Antarjatra”, “Matir Moina”, “Muktir Gaan” and “Naroshundar”.
On January 12, the festival was formally inaugurated through a programme held at the Main Auditorium, National Museum. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith inaugurated the 10-day event. Iranian filmmakers Dariush Mehrjui and Tahmineh Milani, along with festival director and chairman -- Ahmed Muztaba Zamal and Syed Marghub Murshed respectively -- were present at the session.
They all hoped for a better cine culture in Bangladesh. The foreign delegates expressed their gratitude to be part of the festival.
Today (third day of the festival), films will be screened at all four venues -- Shawkat Osman Auditorium, Central Public Library; Main and Sufia Kamal Auditorium, National Museum; and Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, Dhanmondi.
Rainbow Film Society has been arranging the festival since 1990.
News Source:
The Daily Star