This year’s festival is showcasing over two-hundred short and independent films from 45 countries. Each screening comprises with various genres including short fiction, short animation, short documentary, short experimental and feature length films.

Besides regular screening sessions, other special screenings are also scheduled including Lithuanian film package, FTI student film package, Retrospective of Abbas Kiarostami and Kumar Shahani, and a seminar titled Alamgir Kabir Memorial Lecture.

The weeklong biennale film festival was inaugurated on Saturday, December 7 by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at the Central Public Library Auditorium in Shahbagh.

Renowned Indian filmmaker Kumar Sahani and Indian film, television and radio director-screenwriter Kamal Swaroop attended the festival as special guests. Presided by festival chairman Nasiruddin Yousuff Bacchu, the inaugural ceremony was also joined by Bangladesh Short Film Forum President Zahidur Rahim Anjan and festival director N Rashed Chowdhury, among others.

The festival is scheduled to showcase films every day at 3 pm, 5 pm and 7 pm in all of its three venues- Central Public Library, National Museum and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy till December 13.

Organized by Bangladesh Short Film Forum, the festival is partnered by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Goethe Institut, Aliance Francaise de Dhaka, Institut Francais and Shiksha – Shangskrity Shohay Foundation, in association with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Information and Ministry of Cultural Affairs.