Filmmaker Zayed Siddiki’s short film titled Darkaak has been selected for three film festivals in India, Australia and the United States of America.Â
The film is set to be screened at the 15th Indian Film Festival in Melbourne in Australia, the 10th International Film Festival in Shimla in India, and the 13th DC South Asian Film Festival in the USA.
Mentioning that from a very personal feeling he made the film, Zayed Siddiki said, ‘The film highlights the negligence we show towards our senior citizens and the helplessness they experience when we devalue them.’
All of us will become irrelevant at some point, but that doesn’t make us worthless, he said, adding, ‘‘‘DarKaak’’ will be screened in the Indian Film Festival in Melbourne from August 15 to 30.’
The film will compete for the Best International Short Film award in Shimla in India on August 17, he mentioned, adding, ‘I will attend the festival.’
Based on a fiction writer Shahidul Zahir’s short story, and the screenplay and the dialogue written by Zayed Siddiki, the film will vie for both the Best Short Jury and the Audience Awards at the DC South Asian Film Festival in the USA scheduled from September 13 to 15.
‘Darkaak’ portrays an elderly man, dependent on his family members, grappling with an existential crisis.
At some point, regarding an important family decision, he realises his unimportance, which leads him to withdraw from the family and become rebellious and aimless.
Jayanto Chattapadhyay has portrayed the lead role in the film.
Besides, Aminur Rahman Mukul, Iqbal Hossain, Tuntuni Sobhan, Fazlul Haque, Tahua Labib Tura and ABM Saidul Haque. Jerin Akter Shimul and Akhlaquzzaman Khan have played different roles in the film.Â
Saiyeed Shahjada Al-Kareem, Israt Jahan, Sakib Iftekhar and Hasib Shakil are the executive producers of the film.
Hasnat Sohan captured the film’s compelling visuals as the director of photography, and Sujan Mahmud edited the film along with sound design.
Mashiur Rahman was the line producer while the film’s art direction was overseen by Zayed Siddiki and Tasnim Nisso, who also served as the chief assistant director alongside assistant directors Akhlaquzzaman Khan and Mallika Roy. Durjoy Roy and Tanjina Islam worked as assistant art director and costume supervisor respectively in the film.
Earlier, the film participated in the 17th Bangladesh International Short and Independent Film Festival, 12th Indo-German Film Week in Berlin, 7th South Asian Short Film Festival in Kolkata and the Round the Frame Film Competition in India.