The festival was organised by Bangladesh Short Film Forum from February 25 to March 4 at the BSA, Bangladesh National Museum and Bangladesh Film Archive in the capital. COURTESY
One Bangladeshi short film and two foreign films bagged awards at the concluding ceremony of the 16th International Short and Independent Film Festival 2022 at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Friday evening.
The festival was organised by Bangladesh Short Film Forum from February 25 to March 4 at the BSA, Bangladesh National Museum and Bangladesh Film Archive in the capital.
Bangladeshi filmmaker Laboni Ashrafi-directed Chakrabyuha won the Tareq Shahriar Best Independent Short Film Award.
Laboni received a crest, a certificate and Tk 25,000 as part of the award. AKM Zakaria chaired the jury while Sadia Khalid Reeti and Sameer Ahmed were members of the jury.
Ilir Kabashi-directed Survival and School from Kosovo won the International Competition Best Documentary Award and Qatari filmmaker Majid Al Remaihi-directed And Then They Burn The Sea won special mention.
India’s RV Ramani chaired the jury while Swedish filmmaker Ragnhild Ek and Bangladesh’s Faridur Rahman were members of the jury.
Qatar-based Sudanese-Russian filmmaker Suzannah Mirghani-directed Al-Sit won the International Competition Best Fiction Film Award and Egyptian filmmaker Sameh Alaa-directed I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face won special mention.
Jahnui Barua from India chaired the jury. May Odeh from Palestine and Morshedul Islam from Bangladesh were members of the jury.
Both winners of Best Documentary Award and Best Fiction Award received a crest, a certificate and $ 1,000 each.
Representatives of Bangladesh Short Film Forum received the awards on behalf of the two award-winning filmmakers, who could not travel to Bangladesh due to the Covid situation.
Information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud was present as chief guest at the closing ceremony of the festival.
The BSA director general Liaquat Ali Lucky was present as special guest at the programme, which was presided over by Bangladesh Short Film Forum president Zahidur Rahim Anjan.
Besides, festival organising committee chairman Nasiruddin Yousuff and director Syed Imran Hossain Kirmani were present at the programme.
‘Some short films expose often overlooked issues of a society that are needed to be addressed. Short and independent films help us to understand our responsibilities towards society. In recent times, many talented Bangladeshi young filmmakers are making short and independent films that are winning international awards and acclaim,’ Hasan Mahmud said.
Syed Imran Hossain Kirmani said, ‘We had to overcome different challenges to organise the festival amid the Covid situation. The festival has received a huge response from the audience. I thank all who have played a role in making this festival a success.’
Laboni Ashrafi said, ‘I am thankful to the Bangladesh Cinema And Television Institute for grooming me as a filmmaker. I dedicated this award to Manzare Hassin Murad who inspired me to bring out the best in me,’ she said.
This year’s festival featured 414 films from 130 countries.
More than 60 short films, recently screened at Cannes, Berlin, Sundance, Locarno and Busan film festivals, and 70 Bangladeshi films were screened at the event.
A total of 3,862 films were submitted to the festival. The slogan of this year’s festival was Free Cinema Free Expression.
The festival also featured lectures, seminars, policy dialogue and master-classes on films.
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