On the opening day, Sudipta Saha-directed ‘Khoka Jokhon Chhoto Chhilen’ was screened marking the 100th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
German filmmaker Katja Benrath’s ‘Rocca Changes the World’ was also screened.
Former finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith joined the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest, while State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak was present as the special guest.
President of Children’s Film Society Bangladesh Dr Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, General Secretary Munira Morshed Munni, filmmaker and founder of the festival and Children’s Film Society Bangladesh (CFSB) Morshedul Islam and festival Director Fariha Jahin Biva were also present at the ceremony. Festival advisory committee Chairman and art maestro Mustafa Monwar presided over the programme.
The weeklong festival, which is being organised by CFSB, is scheduled to feature 173 films from 39 participating countries including Bangladesh, India, Mexico, Spain, France, Germany, Canada, Qatar, Korea, Armenia and others.
The films will be screened under different sections – ‘Bangladeshi Children Filmmakers’ Section’, ‘Special Film Competition’, ‘International Competitive Film Section’, ‘Young Bangladeshi Film Section’ and ‘Bangabandhu Through My Lens’ - a new section which was introduced observing the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.
Prominent filmmakers Syed Salahuddin Zaki, Shameem Akhter and Shabnam Ferdousi are the jury board members at the International Competitive Film Section, while young filmmakers Nurul Alam Atiq, Nur Imran Mithu and Abu Shahed Emon are in the jury board of the Young Bangladeshi Film Section.
The Jury board for Bangladeshi Children Filmmakers Section consists of five members who are below 18.
Along with screening selected films, the festival will also feature workshops and interactive sessions with Nehal Quraishi (cinematography), Piplu R Khan (direction), Nahid Masud (sound in films) and Amitabh Reza Chowdhury (storytelling).
The films will be screened at 11am, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm at five different venues - Public Library, Bangladesh National Museum, Alliance Française de Dhaka, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Goethe-Institut Bangladesh.
They are free for all.
CFSB has been organising the festival – one of the biggest film festivals in Bangladesh and also the only international film festival dedicated to children – since 2008.
The festival will conclude on January 31 with an award-giving ceremony.