IIUSFF observes World Refugee Day

Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS), in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is organising the 12th International Inter University Short Film Festival (IIUSFF) virtually this year. As a part of this festival, a 2-day programme was also arranged to observe World Refugee Day (June 20) on IIUSFF's official YouTube and Facebook pages.

The open for all event featured a panel discussion on the theme, 'How Art and Media Can Create Empathy among Individuals in Humanitarian Crises'. Professor Dr Delwar Hossain, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, Shameem Akhtar, Filmmaker and Screenwriter, young filmmaker Mrittika Kamal, Veton Orana, Assistant Representative UNHCR in Bangladesh and Aleksandar Aleksic, winner, the best director for 'Short Film on Refugee' at the 10th International Inter University Short Film Festival participated in the panel discussion.

The programme also featured the screening of short films with the purpose of shedding light on the refugee crisis and celebrating the work of university-going filmmakers from all over the world. 

The first day of the event featured three screening sessions.  The Note, directed by Siavash Eydani from Iran, Welcome, directed by Asia Borioli from Italy, Under A Shiny Sky, directed by Ahmed Mücahid from Syrian Arab Republic and Dirty Roses, directed by Petra Ston from Greece were screened in the first session.

Shoes and Mountain by Midya Narimani from Iran), Noor Islam by Devshree Nath from India, An Outsider's Perspective by Alex Rolph from the United Kingdom), Chickpeace by Sirvan Marogy, from Luxembourg, along with Salaam and The Peace Among Peoples by Gregori Fiorini from Turkey was screened in the second session.

Oh Father by Mahmood Sharifi-asl from Iran, Essence by Ella Ben Yacov and Anita Hagadust from Israel, Marathon by Jamal lutfi from Iraq, and Advenae by Fabio Leone and Antonella Barbera from Italy was screened in the third session.

The second day of the event featured two screening sessions. The first session included the films -- The Others by Umar Eken, from Turkey, Apple Melody by Mehdi Razi from Sweden, The Wooden Doll by Mohamad Reza Misaghi from Turkey, Companion by ömer dişbudak from Turkey, and The Bird by Mahmoud Hirmand from Afghanistan.

The films Sam's Castle by Giona Dapporto, Italy), Going After Refuge (Director: Barış Elçin, Turkey), Lionhearted (Director: Ricarda Saleh, Germany), Distances and Wishes and Ömer by ömer dişbudak from Turkey, and A Moment In Time by Belal Saeed Abdel Hakim from Egypt were showcased in the final screening session of the event.

This year, with the 12th edition of IIUSFF, this remarkable journey has reached a new height with a submission of a total of 2583 short films from 106 countries.