<i>10th Dhaka International Film Festival begins today</i>
(L-R) Syed Margub Murshed, Quazi N Shahriar, Fritz Meijndert, Dr Stefan Frowein, Ahmed Mujtaba Jamal, Kishuar Kamal and Badal Rahman at the press conference
Tenth Dhaka International Film Festival, the biggest event of its kind in the country, begins today at the National Museum Auditorium. Over 100 full-length films, short films and documentaries from 40 countries are participating at the festival arranged by Rainbow Film Society in association with European Union, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Royal Norwegian Embassy, SIGNIS, Religion Today Film Festival and GMG Airlines.
The main venue of the festival is Central Public Library, Shahbagh. Films will also be screened at the Main Auditorium and Begum Sufia Kamal Auditorium at National Museum, Russian Centre for Science and Culture and the Indian Cultural Centre.
Five categories of films include: Australasian Cinema, Retrospective, Tribute, Cinema of the World, Focus, African Films, Bangladesh Panorama, Independent Film, Women Filmmaker Section, Spiritual Film Session and International Cinema. A five-member jury -- Petrus Van Bueren from Netherlands, Shamim Akhtar from Bangladesh, Alexis Krasilovosky from USA, Nenad Dukic from Serbia and Rahat Khan from Bangladesh -- will select the best movie of the festival. Moreover, The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and Belgium-based film organisation SIGNIS will provide awards.
In this connection Director of the Festival Committee, Ahmed Mujtaba Jamal briefed the media at a press conference at Hotel Sheraton, yesterday. Ambassador of the European Commission, Dr Stefan Frowein; Deputy Head of Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Fritz Meijndert; Vice-chairman of the Festival Committee, Badal Rahman; President of Rainbow Film Society, Kishuar Kamal and General Manager (Sales and Marketing) of GMG airlines, Quazi N Shahriar also spoke at the programme. Chairman of the Festival Committee, Syed Margub Murshed chaired the press conference session.
Commenting on the novelty of the 10th Dhaka International Film Festival, Ahmed Mujtaba Jamal said, “For the first time we are introducing a 'talent campus' in the festival. Moreover, in association with the French Embassy, we will screen 14 African films. The inclusion of 'Spiritual Film Division', courtesy of Italian Religion Today, will add a new dimension to the festival.”
Like the previous festivals, seminars are an integral part of this year's event. Jamal also informed that as per the demand of the government, the Festival Committee has paid for censorship clearance. He further added, “We want cooperation from the government, especially from Bangladesh Film Censor Board, so the festival runs smoothly.”
Sixty percent of the proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to the Sidr victims and rest will be donated towards the treatment of actor Camelia Mustafa.