Bengal Foundation to work for development of films

Abul Khair speaks at the discussion.

Bengal Foundation, one of the biggest institutions working for the country's cultural progress, has taken up an elaborate project for the development of Bangladeshi cinema. The plans in the pipeline include investment in film production, distribution and establishing cinema halls.

Under the “Young Filmmaker Project”, Bengal Entertainment is looking to invest in 15 to 20 quality films every year.

A discussion of the newly-formed Bengal Film Development Forum with eminent personalities of the cultural fraternity was held at the Bengal Shilpalaya Cafe in Dhanmondi on Saturday.

Chairperson of the forum's project management council, Luva Nahid Chowdhury said there was no alternative to making more films, in order to place the film industry on a strong footing and bring audiences back to the movie halls.

Convenor of the Forum, Chairman, Bengal Foundation Abul Khair said there were numerous young talents who dream of making films to create a signature style of Bangladeshi cinema, but are pulled back by lack of funding. Bengal is making films with established and new directors alike on the one hand, while establishing 400 cultural centres across the country with film-projection facilities on the other. The forum will also organise training, workshops and discussions with national and international experts on various aspects of the art, he added.

Discussants at the programme decided to invite scripts from young filmmakers next month through a press conference, and expressed the hope that work on some of the selected films could begin within September.

The advisory council of the forum includes Asaduzzaman Noor MP; Syed Shamsul Haq; Morshedul Islam; Luva Nahid Chowdhury; Sajjad Sharif; Manzare Haseen Murad; Shamim Akhter; Shahidul Islam Khokon; Robin Davis; Catherine Masud and Afsana Mimi.

Among others present at the discussion were artist Qayyum Chowdhury; Rafiqun Nabi; Information secretary, Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, ndc; FDC Director General Pijush Bandopadhyay; Giasuddin Selim and Nurul Alam Atiq.