Ten-day film festival begins at Shilpakala

A ten-day film festival featuring films made by members of film societies began at the National Art Gallery Auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Thursday.

The film festival titled Chalachitra Sangsadkarmider Nirmita Chalachitra Utshab 2023 has been organised by Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh in association with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy marking 60 years of film society movement in Bangladesh and 50 years of the federation.

The film festival is featuring 43 selected films made in the past 60 years.

Among the films, there are 22 full-length feature films, 13 documentaries and eight short films.

Senior filmmaker Masihuddin Shaker inaugurated the festival on Thursday.

Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh general secretary Belayat Hossain Mamun and convener of the national committee of the festival filmmaker Morshedul Islam delivered welcome speech at the inaugural ceremony of the festival.

Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh advisory council member Kaizer Chowdhury presided over the inaugural ceremony.

‘It is a unique film festival. This film festival proves that a large portion of the important films in the country had been made by filmmakers associated with the film society movement,’ said Morshedul Islam.

‘No such film festival was held in the past 50 years. I think this festival will play a role in making the younger generation aware of the contribution of their predecessors. I invite all to visit the festival and watch the films,’ said Belayat Hossain Mamun.

Paying tribute to artist SM Sultan, Tareque Masud-directed documentary film Adam Surat and Morshedul Islam-directed Chaka were screened on the opening day of the festival.

Organisers have dedicated the festival to the late independent film activist Shushil Sutradhar.

The film festival will feature five films, namely Alamgir Kabir-directed Surjo Konna and Shilpacharya, Harunur Rashid-directed Megher Onek Rong, Enayet Karim Babul-directed Chakki and Syed Salahuddin Zaki-directed Ghuddi today.

Besides, films of Enamul Karim Nirjhar, Masihuddin Shaker,  Nasiruddin Yousuff, Shameem Akhtar, Muhammad Kayum,  Nurul Alam Atique, Badal Rahman and others will be screened at the festival.

The closing day of the festival will feature a closing ceremony and three films, namely MA Samad-directed Surjo Grohon, Tareque Masud-directed Matir Moina and Tanvir Mokammel-directed Chitra Nodir Pare.

The films are scheduled to be screened at 3:00pm, 5:30pm and 7:30pm every day. 

The festival will end on June 17.