A five-day film festival, titled 12th Liberation DocFest Bangladesh, featuring works by local and foreign filmmakers began at the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka on Thursday.
Liberation War Museum lifted the curtain on the festival organising an inaugural ceremony at its auditorium at Agargaon in the capital.
State minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat was present as chief guest, actor and ruling Awami League lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor, Indian filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar, Indian film personality Nilotpal Majumdar were present as special guests and trustee and member secretary of Liberation War Museum Sara Zaker delivered welcome speech at the event.
Director of the 12th Liberation DocFest Bangladesh Mofidul Hoque chaired the programme.
Mohammad A Arafat said, 鈥業t is impressive that youths are showing interest in making documentary films nowadays. We will try to telecast documentary films on Bangladesh Television. We have to patronise and promote art and cultural activities to develop the creative art sector of the country. I thank the organiser for dedicating this festival to the people of Palestine.鈥�
Indian Film personality Nilotpal Majumdar recently conducted a workshop titled 鈥楨xposition of Young Film Talents 2024: Storytelling Lab for Documentary Filmmakers鈥� as part of the event.
He said, 鈥楧ocumentary films capture the stories of marginal people. They not only reflect contemporary issues but also highlight a special perspective which is important for civilisation,鈥�
鈥楤angladesh and India do not telecast documentary films. I was impressed by the young Bangladeshi filmmakers who participated in the storytelling workshop. I hope their works will be appreciated globally,鈥� he added.
Organised by the Liberation War Museum, the festival is featuring 36 films from both home and abroad in two venues, including the Liberation War Museum and Alliance Francaise de Dhaka in Dhaka.
The festival is featuring films from Bangladesh, Spain, Italy, Iran, India, Palestine, Brazil, Syria, Ukraine and Kosovo.
The participating films will be screened under different segments, including Post-War Conflict, Students Perspective, Environment, Living History, Personal and Political, Liberation War and Beyond and Special Screening.
Indian filmmaker Krishnendu Bose, Bangladeshi filmmaker Shabnam Ferdousi and Bangladeshi performance artist-filmmaker Reetu Sattar will evaluate Bangladeshi films.
Besides, Indian Filmmaker Haobam Paban Kumar, Bangladeshi filmmaker Shameem Akhtar and pro-vice-chancellor of ULAB Jude William Genilo will evaluate the international films.
After the discussion, Palestinian filmmaker Mohamed Jabaly鈥檚 film titled 鈥楲ife is Beautiful鈥� was screened at the event.
The film covers Jabaly鈥檚 forced separation from his family in Gaza. It tells the story of overcoming a life put on hold by international politics and rigid bureaucracy.
Another film 鈥楧olls Don鈥檛 Die鈥� by Indian filmmaker Ranajit Roy was also screened at the same venue.
The films will be screened at the museum from 11:00am to 9:00pm every day. Alliance Francaise de Dhaka in Dhanmondi will screen the films on Friday and Saturday from 3:00pm to 7:00pm.
The five-day festival will end on April 22.
