Dhaka International Film Festival 2024 begins

The 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival began at the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka on Saturday. The nine-day event, organised by Rainbow Film Society, is featuring 253 films from 74 countries, including 71 films from Bangladesh.

Finance minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali was present as chief guest while Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, renowned Indian actress Sharmila Tagore and tourism ministry secretary Mokammel Hossain were present as special guests at the inaugural ceremony, which was presided over by the DIFF chief patron ruling Awami League lawmaker Md Shahriar Alam.

The DIFF director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal delivered the welcome speech at the inaugural ceremony.
‘I hope that the Dhaka International Film Festival will become as prestigious as the Cannes Film Festival and other internationally acclaimed film events in future. I hope that our films and film artistes will gradually establish Bangladesh on the global map. This film festival is featuring films from different countries of the world. I invite all to enjoy the festival,’ said Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.

‘I request the audience to watch the Chinese films which will be screened at this festival. It is a very good platform to promote local films with global films. We hope that Bangladesh and China will collaborate in the film industry,’ said Yao Wen.

‘I am happy to be a part of the jury of the festival. I believe that films can communicate messages more effectively than any language and films contain a universal appeal,’ said Sharmila Tagore.

‘Film representatives from many countries of the world have come to Dhaka to participate in the festival. The festival must appeal to common people. I feel honoured because I have been a part of this festival for a long time. I hope that this festival will be held on a larger scale in future,’ said Md Shahriar Alam.

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Naim Dance Company artistes entertained the audience by staging group dance recitals at the inaugural ceremony.Following the inaugural ceremony of the festival, Bangladesh-Iran join venture film titled ‘Fereshte’ starring Jaya Ahsan and directed by Morteza Atashzamzam, and Bangladeshi-Indian joint venture Shyam Benegal-directed ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation’ were screened at the venue.

The 253 films will be screened at different venues, including the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium and Sufia Kamal Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum, auditorium of Alliance Française de Dhaka, National Art Gallery Auditorium and National Music, Dance and Recitation Centre Auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.