Bangladesh takes first ever stall at Cannes

Bangladesh will be taking its first ever stall at the Cannes International Film Festival. The information was confirmed to the media by Dr Hasan Mahmud, Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Joint General Secretary of Awami League. 

On April 30, during a meeting with the Bangladesh Film Journalist Association (Bachsas), he shared this information and added that the much anticipated biopic on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, "Mujib: The Making of a Nation" will likely be screened at the worlds' most prestigious film festival. 

He stated that for the first time the country would be taking a stall at the festival, with the aim of taking Bangladeshi films to the international stage. 

The minister appreciated the contribution of Bangladesh Film Journalists Association for the development of the film industry over the last 55 years, and the continuous culture of honouring artistes through the Bachsas film award system.

The leaders from the association then asked the minister for certain demands, including the allocation of a room for Bachsas in BFDC and involving representatives from the association in various committees under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in foreign tours, among others.

Dr Hasan Mahmud provided assurance to check and consider the issues raised by them. The association's President Raju Alim and General Secretary Rimon Mahfuz attended the meeting.

Regarding the progress of the film industry, Dr Hasan Mahmud said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set up an easy loan fund of BDT 1,000 crore, for the construction and renovation of cinema halls.

The Shilpi Kalyan Trust has been formed for film artistes. Construction of new buildings in BFDC is under progress, at a fast pace. In the building, there will be four floors for shooting, where an entire film can be shot. Besides, after the completion of Bangabandhu Film City in Gazipur, films can be made there too.