State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid said that film is an important medium of art and culture, especially in today's world that is largely regulated by social media platforms.

“Film is a very timely medium of entertainment and universally admired as the most engaging and close medium for projecting life as realistically as possible through reflecting the joys-sorrows-laughter and tears, within a limited timeframe”.

The State Minister made his remarks while inaugurating the 3rd Bangladesh Short film and Documentary Festival 2021 on Friday, as the chief guest at the virtual inauguration ceremony.

Mentioning Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA)’s various activities in the medium of cinema, KM Khalid said, “BSA has been conducting activities with films since its inception in 1974. As part of its continuation in upholding our films through connecting the filmmakers and audiences, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organized ‘Bangladesh Film Festival’ in 2015 and 2017, and 'Bangladesh Short Film and Documentary Festival' in 2016 and 2018, in 64 districts of the country simultaneously.”

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Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Badrul Arefin, noted filmmaker Amitabh Reza Chowdhury and prominent film scholar-researcher Anupam Hayat also joined the inauguration ceremony as special guests and shared their thoughts on this special festival.

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BSA's Director of Theatre and Film department and prominent thespian Afsana Karim Mimi delivered the welcome speech at the inauguration ceremony, which was chaired by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky. The inauguration ceremony was hosted by media personality Nabanita Chowdhury.

After the inauguration ceremony, film screening at the festival began with Aparajita Sangita directed film 'Revolt'. A total of 8 short films and documentaries were screened at the inaugural day of the festival.

More than 400 films were submitted at this year's festival, among which, a five-member selection committee including film researcher Anupam Hayat, filmmaker and Advisor of Bangladesh Documentary Council Sazzad Zahir, filmmaker and Secretary General of Bangladesh Short Film Forum Rakibul Hasan, film critic and Dhaka Tribune Showtime Editor Sadia Khalid and Assistant Director of BSA's Theatre and Film department Chakladar Mostafa Al Masoud, have selected the participating 119 films which will be showcased throughout the 8-day-long festival.

A five-member jury committee including Bangladesh Documentary Council President Faridur Rahman, Bangladesh Short Film Forum President Zahidur Rahman Anjan, filmmaker Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, actress and BSA's Director of Theatre and Film department Afsana Karim Mimi and the chairman of the committee, eminent filmmaker Syed Salahuddin Zaki, will select the best films of the festival.

Seven separate awards will be conferred on the recipients, based on each of the two categories (fiction films and documentaries).

The festival will also feature three masterclasses from June 21st to June 23rd at 6 pm. These masterclasses will be conducted by Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, Shabnam Ferdousi and Lawrence Apu Rozario.

Viewers can watch films at the official Facebook page and YouTube channel of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The festival will conclude on June 25.