The event is organised by the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies (BFFS) in association with Bangladesh Film Producers and Distributors Association, Bangladesh Motion Picture Exhibitors Association, Bangladesh Cinematographers Society and Bangladesh Film Community. The International Federation of Film Societies (IFFS) is the international partner of the 16-day event. A total of 115 award winning and acclaimed films from about 40 countries will be screened at the festival.

Films will be screened from December 02 to 09 at the auditoriums of the Public Library, the National Museum, the Russian Cultural Centre and the Star Cineplex at the Bashundhara City in the capital. From December 03 to 09, films will be shown at 20 cinema halls of Dhaka and Narayanganj, including Bolaka, Modhumita, Abhishar, Razmoni, Shyamoli, Sony, Ananda of Dhaka and Diamond, Asha and New Gulshan of Narayanganj. Between December 10-16, films will also be shown in other parts of the country: Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal. Besides, Shishu Academy will hold film shows from December 04 to 08.

The International Competition section of the festival features 10 films from Singapore, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Iraq, India, Bhutan and host Bangladesh. Lalon of Tanvir Mokammel, Shankhanaad of Abu Sayeed and Joyjatra of Tauquir Ahmed are the Bangladeshi titles for contesting in this group. Shankhanaad will have its international première on this occasion.

The International Showcase section will present 27 films including Distant from Turkey which has won 48 awards at the Cannes Film Festival, including best film and best actor, Oscar nominated Osama from Afghanistan, Romanian film Maria, The August Sun from Sri Lanka, The Wick from Argentina, The Year of the Devil from Czech Republic and many others.

The Bangladesh Panorama features four widely acclaimed films: Aasia of Fateh Lohani, Anowara of Zahir Raihan, Surjo Sangrami of recently demised director Abdus Samad and Dohon of Sheikh Niamot Ali. Besides, a Bangla Showcase will screen six Bangladeshi films including Bachelor, Megher Porey megh, Kokhono Megh Kokhono Brishti, Shyamalchhaya and Ek Khando Jomi and seven Indian Bangla films including Iti Srikanta, Bombaier Bombete, Abar Ashibo Phirey and Warish.

The festival features retrospectives of Istvan Szabo of Hungary, Gianni Amelio of Italy and Girish Kasaravalli of India. Besides a tribute will be paid to late Bangladeshi director Sheikh Salauddin by screening three of his films.

This year's Focus section presents films by Iranian women directors. Films like Fifth Reaction and Two Women of Tahmineh Milani, City of the Mice of Marziyeh Boroomand and Love Without Border and A Candle in the Wind of Pooran Darakhshandeh will be screened in this section.

A new section has been introduced for children in this year's festival. This Children Showcase features two Bangladeshi films--Duratta of Morshedul Islam and Tiktiki of Rejanur Rahman, three Chinese films--Little Tiger Banban, Baseball Boys and Lotus Lantern, and an Iranian film.

The Popular Showcase brings 17 commercial films from the SAARC countries. The list reasonably gives most space for Indian films, which, however, has given rise to criticism among many film society activists.

The festival also features two seminars on Globalisation Film and Diversity to be presented by Vice President of IFFS Paolo Minuto and Expanding Domain of Film: Communicaton, Documentation and Entertainment by Sri Lankan filmmaker Robert Crusz.

Lifetime achievement awards will be given to six Bangladeshi film producers, directors, actors, actresses, cinematographers and music directors for their contribution to the film industry of the country. Besides, three prizes worth US $ 10,000 will be given in the International Competition section.

About 40 international film personalities are expected to attend the festival. The guests include Indian filmmakers Girish Kasaravalli, Rituparno Ghosh, Anjan Das, Shatarupa Sanyal and actress Raima Sen, Afghan filmmaker Siddik Barmark, Iranian women filmmakers Pooran Derakshandeh, Boroomand Yazi, Minoo Farshchi and many others.