Portraying the undiscovered night life of Dhaka from a young filmmaker's perspective, Apurba Jahangir directed short-film Dhaka An Opera is scheduled to have it's virtual premiere on Saturday evening at Lagvelki.com, the first pay per movie OTT platform in Bangladesh.

Showcasing the perspective and stories around the vibrant night life of Dhaka as one of the most crowded megacities in the world - the film has been screened and got official selections in both national and international film festivals including Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival in India and Dhaka Inter University International Film Festival.

"We experience loads of traffic in Dhaka during the busy, hectic and forever busy Dhaka megacity - but a rare number of audience explored the night life of Dhaka on films. Also, not many films have showcased the shores of Dhaka nights and the thousand shades of the city. The film portrays mesmerizing night life of Dhaka city in an absolute new dimension that none has introduced to the audience on screen," director Apurba Jahangir said about his film.

Presented by Panchali Production, the short-film projected the night life of the city dwellers from the lower to upper class perspective, masterfully within a limited time duration. Also, it has portrayed the night life of Dhaka urbanites in such an artistic way - showing both dilemma and sorrow of the city and its dwellers alongside the struggles, in a melodious and realistic way.

A graduate of Media and Communication from the University of Liberal Arts (ULAB), Apurba started his career as a feature writer in national dailies which eventually thrived him to write on films and dove into the world of cinema. His first cinematic venture was a documentary titled Modhu (An in-depth look on the famous Modhur Canteen at the University of Dhaka), followed by Dhaka An Opera.

Apart from being a filmmaker, Apurba is currently working as the Chief Creative Officer of 360ONE, a creative advertising agency. He is also a writer and columnist, and the son of late eminent columnist and talk show host Muhammad Jahangir.

Following the virtual premier, viewers can watch the film on the website for free from anywhere for the next two months.

Bollywood star Salman Khan has come to the rescue of ailing actor Faraaz Khan, whose family has been struggling to meet his medical expenses.

German cultural organization Goethe-Institut Bangladesh has recently launched its second edition of the Science Film Festival, virtually taking place in Bangladesh which has already earned its recognition as a celebration of science communication in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Demonstrating this year's theme “Science can be fun” - the festival is aiming to present scientific issues accessibly and entertainingly to a great number of audiences in 30 countries from October 01 till December 20.

Like all other major festivals and festivities this year, the second edition is taking place virtually with a total of 24 films to the audience of early learners to university students. With this year’s theme of ‘Sustainable Development Goals’, the 2020 festival is in global partnership between the Goethe-Institut and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

According to the institution, the festival promotes science literacy and facilitates awareness of contemporary scientific, technological and environmental issues through international films with accompanying educational activities, in cooperation with local partners.

The inaugural ceremony of the festival was recently held on Zoom, chaired by Goethe-Institut Bangladesh Director Dr Kirsten Hackenbroch. United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) Dr Samiya A Selim joined the ceremony as special guests, along with a number of science enthusiasts, teachers, environmentalists, scientists and students.

As part of a global partnership between Goethe-Institut and the UN Environment Programme, the UN in Bangladesh are co-hosting the Festival with Goethe’s other Bangladesh-based partners including JAAGO Foundation, Teach for Bangladesh, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD at ULAB), PASCH-Schools: Partners for the Future, South Point School & College, Oxford International School (OIS), Maple Leaf International School, European Standard School (ESS) and Mastermind International School.

Teachers, students and the interested audiences can register at https://www.goethe.de/ins/bd/en/kul/prj/ssf.html for free virtual participation via its VIMEO platform where the films are either available in English or with English sub-titles, and five films for younger learners are also available with Bengali subtitles.

Read Also: Cinema halls to reopen from Friday

After over seven months of closure to curb the  spread of coronavirus, country’s cinema halls will reopen Friday maintaining health guidelines.

The Ministry of Information has given permission to screen films in cinema halls across the country from Friday, said a handout on Wednesday.

The ministry has allowed screening films on condition of keeping at least half of the total number of seats in the cinema halls vacant, ensuring proper hygiene and social distance.

Earlier, in a meeting with representatives of the film industry, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said he would discuss with the Prime Minister about reopening of  cinema halls from October 16.

Cinema halls all over Bangladesh remained shut from March 18 due to Covid-9 pandemic.

Also read: BSA to reopen its theatre venues on October 23

Renowned screenwriter and filmmaker Monjurul Islam Megh has been included as the chief of the jury team of the 6th NEZ International Film Festival (NIFF) 2020.

The festival is scheduled to be held in West Bengal. 

NEZ film festival founder, prominent Indian painter, philosopher, writer and filmmaker Sudeep Ranjan Sarkar said Megh is a young film personality but his contribution to the international film festival is very important.

Megh has been nominated by the NEZ International film festival authorities to accelerate the continuity of his contribution to the development of independent film in South Asia, said Sarkar.

Chairperson of the festival Rita Jhawar said Bangladeshi national film award winning actress Rokeya Prachi participated in NEZ International film festival 2016 as a festival director and this year they have invited Megh as the chief jury.

“We hope that the festival will contribute to the development of films in the both the countries,” she said.

NEZ group CEO Sumit Modak said some Oscar-nominated films will compete in this edition.

Monjurul Islam Megh said that he was jury at five different international film festivals but it was the first time he was invited as the chief jury for NEZ International film festival.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I hope it will be a great experience for me.”

Megh has participated in several international film festivals as a jury, delegate and curator. 

He is now busy in developing scripts for his feature films “Begum Rokeya”, a biopic on Begum Rokeya and “Refugees- Comeback” on Rohingya refugee crises and development documentary “Parklet” on Dhaka city.

"Bildakini", a feature film written and directed by Megh has received a Bangladesh government film fund in the 2019-20 financial year.

Also read: Bangladeshi filmmaker Megh included in RISFF jury team