Virtually connecting documentary film enthusiasts around the world, the 9th edition of Liberation DocFest, organized by the Liberation War Museum (LWM), began on Tuesday.

The five-day international festival is being been held virtually for the second years in a row.

This year's festival is celebrating the occasion of the Golden Jubilee anniversary of Bangladesh's Independence, according to the organizers.

On Tuesday, a virtual inauguration ceremony was arranged from the Facebook page of Liberation DocFest which was joined by Syed Hasan Imam, freedom fighter, actor and noted cultural personality of the country as the chief guest. The inauguration ceremony was also joined by Liberation War Museum trustees Sara Zaker, Mofidul Hoque and Dhaka DocLab director Tareq Ahmed, who is also directing the DocFest.

READ: 9th Liberation DocFest postponed as covid cases surge

Hosted by Festival Programmer Shariful Islam Shaon, the event was virtually inaugurated by Syed Hasan Imam. Lauding the initiative alongside reminiscing his own experience of documentary filmmaking during the Liberation War, he said, "This wonderful initiative will not only preserve the glorious journey of our Liberation War; but also help the young film enthusiasts to know more about the struggles centred around independence and human rights around the world.”

Thespian and LWM trustee Sara Zaker said, ‘The Liberation DocFest has earned its significance as an annual festival through which we uphold, discover and celebrate the history of our glorious Liberation War."

Echoing the same, Mofidul Hoque said, ‘This annual festival has come a long way over the years, and it is a matter of honour and pride that our LWM is integrated with this extraordinary initiative, dedicated to the documentary filmmaking to highlight the struggle for Liberation and Human Rights of people in various parts of the world." 

The 9th edition of Liberation DocFest is featuring six different sections, namely the International Competition Section, National Section, Special Package, Cinema of the World, Online Panel Discussion and Director Question-Answer Session. On the first day of the festival, 31 documentaries were screened.

READ: ‘Highways of Life’ takes top prize as 8th Liberation DocFest concludes

A total of 1854 films from 106 countries were submitted to the organizers, among which 163 documentaries from 50 countries are scheduled to be screened at the festival.

This year's Liberation DocFest is set to be concluded on June 12. Cosmos Foundation is the Technology Partner of the Liberation DocFest.