Guerrilla, Moner Manush Compete For Top Prize
Nasiruddin Yousuff’s “Guerrilla” and Gautam Ghosh’s “Moner Manush” are among 17 films competing for the top honour at the 12th Dhaka International Film Festival, which begins today in the city.
The competition segment features four Iranian, three each from India and Turkey, and two Bangladeshi films. They are: Tahmineh Milani’s “Principles” (Iran), Bappaditya Bandopadhyay’s “Kagojer Bou” (India), Lin Hao’s “Addicted to Love” (China) and Umur Hozatli’s “Lost Freedom” (Turkey).
Kazi Hayat’s adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s “Shasti” will be the opening film. The film, along with eight more, will be screened as a tribute to the Nobel Laureate poet, marking his 150th anniversary.
Featuring over 200 films from 55 nations (covering six continents), the festival is an opportunity for the Dhaka audience to enjoy movies from major as well as some little known countries.
The itinerary includes films from Iran, India, China, Japan, France, Serbia, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Russia, UK, USA, Argentina and Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Tanzania, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and UAE.
The organisers have selected the Central Public Library premises as the main venue, while films will also be screened at both the auditoriums of National Museum and at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka in Dhanmondi. Everyday shows will be start at 10am. Five sessions will take place on each day.
The nine-day festival will continue till January 20.
As in previous years, this instalment of the festival will feature regular segments such as Competition, Retrospective, Tributes, Cinema of the World, Children’s Films, Focus and Bangladesh Panorama.
Eight contemporary Bangladeshi feature films including “Doobshatar”, “Nijhum Oronye”, “Aaina”, “Chandragrahan” and “Ebong Kanna” will be screened in the Bangladesh Panorama segment.
Retrospective will showcase films of pioneering Iranian filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui and French filmmaker Pierre Coulibeuf. The Tribute segment will feature the recently deceased Bangladeshi filmmaker Tareque Masud’s films. Eight films will be screened as part of the Bangladesh Panorama section.
The inaugural programme will be held today at 4pm at the main auditorium of the National Museum.
Several local and international organisations including Dhaka Club, Alliance Francaise, Amsterdam Documentary Film Festival, Swiss Embassy in Dhaka, SIGNIS and Religion Today Film Festival are associated with the eagerly awaited event.
-With The Daily Star input
