Showcasing 252 films from 71 countries, the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) will begin Saturday (January 14, 2023). One hundred and twenty-nine full-length feature films and one hundred and twenty-three short and independent films are scheduled to enthral the moviegoers at the festival. Bangladesh will be represented at the festival through 81 films, including 12 full-length feature films and 69 short and independent films. Read more: Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association finally begins journey with full panel Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will inaugurate the festival as the chief guest at the main auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum at 4pm. Prime Minister's Private Industries and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman will join the ceremony as the special guest, which will be presided over by State Minister for Foreign Affairs and DIFF chief patron Shahriar Alam. "Rainbow Film Society has been organising the DIFF every year since 1992 with support from different organisations. Unfortunately, that support is dwindling," festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal said at a press conference in the capital Thursday. Read more: It's a 'Dream Run' to Florida film fest! "To continue this acclaimed festival in the future, we need proper financial assistance from the government and elite members of society and corporations, the driving force behind every other successful film festival across the world." About the unavailability of suitable venues for the festival, newly elected Jatiya Press Club (JPC) General Secretary Shyamal Dutta said the JPC is going to serve as one of the venues for the upcoming edition of the DIFF. Films will be screened at the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib auditorium (main auditorium) and Poet Sufia Kamal auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum, National Art Gallery auditorium, Nandan Theatre open ground and Jatiya Sangeet and Nrityakala auditorium of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), Star Cineplex (Bashundhara City) and Alliance Francaise de Dhaka (Dhanmondi) in the capital. Read More: Indian Movie RRR’s Success at Golden Globe 2023 They will be screened under nine categories – Asian cinema competition section, retrospective, wide angle, Bangladesh panorama, cinema of the world, children's films, women filmmakers, short and independent films and spiritual films. The 21st DIFF will also feature the Ninth Dhaka International Conference on Women in Cinema 2023 at the Samson Lounge, Dhaka Club, from January 15 to 16 and West Meets East: Screenplay Lab from January 15 to 18 at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka. This year, the festival will also host a day-long master class for the first time on January 21 at Bangladesh National Museum. It will be led by filmmakers Jon Jost from the US and Anja Strelec from Belgium. Read More: 2022 Highest Grossing Movies Worldwide There will also be a special session where script pitching, film studies, and practical filmmaking experience will be discussed by Sadia Khalid Reeti and filmmaker Tasmiah Afrin Mou. Bidhan Rebeiro will conduct the master class sessions. The 21st Dhaka International Film Festival will draw to a close on January 22.

Bangladeshi short documentary film ‘Dream Run’ has been nominated for the Joel Sotolongo Micro Film Award at The 2022 Treasure Coast International Film, Music, & Art Festival in Florida. The film has been directed by Mohammed Tawhidul Ahsan, who worked with many foreign filmmakers before making his directorial debut. Team 'Dream Run' also includes Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Joy as director of photography, Joao Ramos as the editor and Meghna Agnihotri as the producer. Read: Roni Bhowmik’s New Short Film ‘Chakrakar’ released by Vivo The film is based on the lost rickshaw art of Bangladesh. The film portrays the history and struggles of the artists who paint and decorate rickshaws. Prior to 'Dream Run', Ahsan worked in the short film ‘Human’ directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The film premiered at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York in 2014. In 2018, Ahsan worked in a television movie, titled ‘Uncivil Servant’, directed by Dawn Natalia, which won the Florida Film Gem Award at the Treasure Coast Film Festival in 2020. Read “Moviegoers and media friends helped save Star Cineplex’s original branch” Ahsan has also worked as an artistic director and 360-degree filming director for the Virtual Reality Implementation project of the prestigious Bangabandhu Military Museum. Bangladeshi documentary movie 'Dream Run' is scheduled to be screened at Regal Cinema 14, Jensen Beach, Florida, US, on Friday.

The curtain closed on the two-day Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) Film Fest 2022 in Dhaka Wednesday with the prize-giving ceremony. Two hundred and seventy-seven participants from 40 public and private universities joined the fest in five categories: short film, cosplay, script writing, poster design and quiz competition. Actors, actresses and the director of the much-talked-about movie "Hawa" attended the opening ceremony Tuesday. Read: 8th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival begins BUP Vice-Chancellor Major General Md Mahbub-ul Alam joined the prize-giving ceremony as the chief guest. Actor Abul Hayat was present as the special guest. Director Giasuddin Selim was the judge at the film fest. Major General Mahbub-ul Alam said a film is not only a medium of entertainment but also a tool to educate people and stimulate patriotism among them. Read BUP Freshers’ Reception-2022 held on campus "A good, thoughtful movie can broaden the window of our mind. It can also inspire us to think critically about society and our surroundings," he said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen on Saturday said filmmakers from all over the world should make more films on the Rohingya issue, shedding light on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the refugee camps dotted around Cox’s Bazaar.