“There should be films on this international crisis, so the world can acknowledge the truth and help to solve this issue,” he said adding that there should also be films made on Bangladeshi immigrants and their livelihood on other parts of the world.
Dr Momen made the remarks while addressing as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of Dhaka International Film Festival’s 18th edition at Bangladesh National Museum’s main auditorium on Saturday afternoon.
Regarding government’s initiative on saving the film industry of Bangladesh, the minister said there will be cinema halls in all 64 districts, covering the whole country.
“Our talented Bangladeshi filmmakers should get more opportunities in the global film market, and through this international festival I hope that market would be more available and welcoming to them”, FM expressed his hope from the organizers and global film marketers.
Chief Patron of the festival and State Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam announced that the 19th edition of this renowned film festival would be dedicated to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, marking the ‘Mujib-Year’. He also asked advice from the participating film scholars regarding the preparation.
The inauguration ceremony was also joined by the organizer Rainbow Film Society’s President and Festival Director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal, Vice President and EC member Mokammel Hossain, Polish filmmaker and Jury board member of Asian Films Competition Section, Joanna KOS-KRAUZE and others.
After the inauguration, the festival commenced with the film UnaVentana Al Mar (Window to the Sea), directed by Miguel Angel Jimenez. The film is a co-production of Spain and Greece.
With the slogan of ‘Better Film, Better Audience, Better Society’- the 18th Dhaka International Film Festival will screen some 220 films, with participation from 74 countries in competitive categories including “Asian Cinema,” “Retrospective,” “Bangladesh Panorama,” “Cinema of the World,” “Children’s Films,” “Spiritual Films,” “Women Filmmakers ” and “Short and Independent Films” categories.
The film screenings will be held at the Bangladesh National Museum’s main auditorium and Sufia Kamal auditorium, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s National Music and Dance auditorium and National Art Gallery, Central Public Library’s Shawkat Osman auditorium, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka auditorium and two of the renowned cinema halls in the capital- Madhumita cinema hall and Star Cineplex’s Bashundhara City and Shimanto Shambhar branches.
Organizers Rainbow Film Society will also be hosting a two-day ‘Sixth International Women Filmmakers Conference’ from Sunday (January 12) where women filmmakers, actors and personalities from all over the world will take part, along with BGMEA president Dr Rubana Huq at Dhaka Club’s Samson H. Chowdhury Lounge.
A day-long programme ‘WEST MEETS EAST’ will also be held on January 14 at the same venue.
Another very important segment that this year’s festival is arranging is the Children’s Film Section, where films related to children will be screened free of cost every day from 10 am to 3 pm. A special arrangement has been made for the underprivileged children to enjoy the films.
Students with valid identity cards will be allowed to watch films for free at the 10 am, 1 pm and 3 pm shows. Except for the cinema halls, attendance for regular audiences will also be free at most of the venues. Screenings at the main gallery of National Museum and Public Library’s Shawkat Osman auditorium however will cost Tk 50.
One film from the Bangladesh Panorama section will receive the prestigious International Film Critics Federation (FIPRESCI) critics’ award for Best Film.
This year’s festival will conclude on January 19.