Preparation on for 15th Dhaka intl film fest
The preparation for the 15th edition of the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) is going on.
The film extravaganza arranged by the Rainbow Film Society will kick off on January 12 in the capital aiming to create audience for both the new and noted filmmakers of home and abroad.
President Abdul Hamid will inaugurate the nine-day festival at 3:30pm on the day at the auditorium of National Museum in Shahbagh.
About 80 films from over 40 countries will be screened at the auditoriums of National Museum, Central Public Library, Alliance Française, American Center and Star Cineplex during the festival.
DIFF director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal told The Daily Star Online that they are working hard with their limitations to make the festival a success. “As part of the festival, a Cine Workshop for aspiring young filmmakers, critics and journalists, is underway.
Preparations for the Women Conference with the participating woman filmmakers, actors and personalities from all over the world have been completed.
“Now, we are working for some other things left undone,” he added.
A total of 31 participants including 17 foreign guests from six countries, Bhutan, India, Iran, Italy, Nepal and Tajikistan, are attending the 2-week 7th Dhaka Cine Workshop organized by the Rainbow on the occasion of the festival.
A producer of more than 10 documentaries and director of five documentaries from Italy, Andrea Morghen is attending the workshop as a teacher. “I am sharing ideas with the fellow participants in the workshop to improve us in the field of filmmaking.”
About his work, the producer-director said, “I work on social issues particularly in Asia and Africa and try to bring good news to encourage people”.
Mentioning one of his documentaries on sexually abused children in Sri Lanka, Andrea said that in that work he portrayed the lifestyle of the victims. “For example they are going to school,” he added.
Currently, the Italian filmmaker is working with an international crew in making a documentary on child labour in Bangladesh. When asked about any intentions to make a feature film Andrea said, “I am more interested to reality rather than fiction.”
A press agent from Italy, Olha Vozna has come to Dhaka both to attend the workshop and the festival. Her Italian director Lia Beltrami has submitted films for the upcoming festival. She is also working with Andrea Morghen.
“I am learning about films. The workshop participants are sharing their views which are enriching me.”
A film editor from Iran, Armin Ebrahimi is attending the workshop to learn about the overall process of filmmaking. Also a crew member of Andrea Morghen, he has worked with Iranian filmmakers Mohammadreza Nasimi and Mohsen Sharafi.
Moreover, Armin has made a short fiction ‘Chasing’ on Iranian immigrants, who were leaving the country for many reasons.
Rojita Adhikari, a freelance journalist from Nepal, is a participant of the workshop. An assistant of the foreign filmmakers including of the BBC’s, she is now preparing herself for filmmaking. “I am attending this workshop as I am keen to make documentaries. This ongoing workshop is helping and assisting me a lot.”
The Nepali journalist further said through this programme she is learning how to make a film and sell it. “I am gaining knowledge about the whole filmmaking process.”
Since it was Rojita’s first visit, she was thrilled at the prospect of being in the country and also expressed her happiness at the pleasant weather in Dhaka.
According to the festival director, the carnival will create opportunities especially for the younger filmmakers and movie-buffs as a whole to watch the works of different countries.
“This festival is a platform for movie-lovers. Particularly, for the local moviemakers, the event will help them share their views with the filmmakers of other countries and improve their work by watching movies of different genres and get prospects of working for international audience,” Ahmed Muztaba Zamal hoped.
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