Little steps towards big changes
The fifth International Children's Film Festival ended just as it had started: with a child giving a speech. Young Nazrye Farzhana took the opportunity to address adults on being more aware of the environment, prevent cutting of trees and to provide holistic education for all children. She added that she wished to see more child-friendly films.
“We want to expose children to the positive facets of society, instead of the negatives that happen everyday here in Bangladesh,” said Munira Morshed Munni, general secretary of the Children's Film society Bangladesh, at the Shawkat Osman auditorium of the Central Public Library where the closing ceremony was held. “Here at the festival, everyone is friends with the other and the children worked very hard to make the festival a success,” she added. She also quoted Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who said that “Children are very innovative and they have a great power of imagination.”
“This festival is different because everything is done by children,” said renowned writer and educationist Mohammad Zafar Iqbal, president of the Children's Film Society Bangladesh.
“I'm very happy that the children worked so hard. The young volunteers made the festival very special and beautiful,” asserted artist Mustafa Monwar.
Festival director Morshedul Islam gave his perspective on next year's festival: “We will try to get delegates from other countries.” He also thanked the co-organiser UNICEF for its unstinting support and all the volunteers who were behind the scenes.
The competitors were judged by a jury of children. For the best essays Sadia Rahman Sadhita and Syed Mohammed Yeasir won awards. Five films by children from Bangladesh were awarded as the best. The first prize went to “The Unit” made by Mohammed Toukir Islam; the second prize to “3rd of November” by Rayhan Ahmed; “Chaplin Returns” made by Abul Kalam Azad got the third prize. “Bornohin” by Nafisa Fateha and “3, 2, 1, 0 -- Action” by Abir Ferdous were awarded special prizes. Each award winning filmmaker and essay writer received Taka 25,000 and a certificate.
The festival was held simultaneously in seven divisional cities. A total of 20 venues, including nine in Dhaka, were selected for the festival. With the slogan “Future in Frames”, Children's Film Society Bangladesh has been arranging the festival for the last five years. Over 200 films from 40 countries were screened at this year's festival.
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