The formal film screening of the fourth International Film Festival began in nine theatres in Dhaka on Sunday. A total of 40 films on children in different format including feature film, short film, animation and documentary films were screened on the second day of International Children Film Festival.
The houseful viewers of Dhaka enjoyed films such as Sky Fairy (Iran), The Great Adventure (Canada), Big Sister Punam (Serbia), Morrison Gets a Baby Sitter( Netherlands) and Baseball Boys (China).
The weeklong festival will screen nearly 250 films on children from 40 countries with the slogan ‘Future in Frames’ simultaneously running in Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi. Children’s Film Society Bangladesh has been organising the festival since 2008 with the motto to encourage the young generation in filmmaking.
Earlier, the festival was inaugurated at the Central Public Library in Dhaka on Saturday. Eminent cultural personality Mustafa Monwar , noted writer Mohammad Zafar Iqbal, filmmaker and the director of the fest Morshedul Islam were present at the occasion, among others. However, there was no screening session on the day.
‘Children have no country, no community and no religion. They are just a representative of the future world,’ said Mustafa Monwar, advisor of the film festival.
Criticising the non cooperation of country’s established companies, Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, who is also a Professor of Shahajalal University said,’ It is a shame that big companies are not interested to sponsor the fest’.
Morshedul Islam said, ‘Children can explore the culture and tradition of different countries through the film festival’.
As part of the festival, a series of workshops and seminars on children’s films will be held to foster the understanding of films as an art form.
Seven buses including two double-deckers will ply in the city to carry children to and from the venues. Besides, children will also have the opportunity to meet in person with Mohammad Zafar Iqbal, child psychologist specialist Mehtab Khanam and freedom fighter Harunur Rashid during the occasion.
Today, viewers will enjoy a number of movies including The ball (UK), Emiler Goyenda Bahini ( Bangladesh), The white balloon (Iran), Requiem for Kosova (USA), Loosing Balance (Germany), Pasanga (India) and more.
