Md Hasanur Rahman Tanzir – The curtain has come down on the 23rd Dhaka International Film Festival. 44 foreign representatives directly participated in this 9-day festival with 203 films from 75 countries in 10 different categories. Uzbekistan director Shokir Khalikov’s film ‘Yakshanba’ has been selected as the best film in the Asian Competition category this year. Directed by Shokir Khalikov. In addition, Srijit Mukherjee’s film ‘Padatik’ won the best audience award. The film ‘Priya Malti’ directed by Shank Dasgupta has been awarded in the Bangladesh Panorama. In which Mehzabeen Chowdhury played the lead role.
In this year’s festival, the wide angle section was dedicated to Chinese films on the occasion of the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh. At the same time, a special exhibition of Chinese film posters was organized in the corridor of the main auditorium of the National Museum.
In addition, a two-day conference titled ‘Women in Eleventh Cinema’ was a special attraction of the festival. Like in the past, this year’s festival also had a masterclass. Film experts from Bangladesh, Serbia, China and Norway spoke at the masterclass, which was conducted under the supervision of Dhaka-based film critic Bidhan Ribeiro. In addition, this time, a retrospective of renowned Russian film director Alexei Fedorchenko was organized.
The closing ceremony began on Sunday (January 19) with a dance performance by the ‘Jaltaranga’ dance troupe. The chief guest was Cultural Affairs Advisor Mustafa Sarwar Farooqui. In his speech on stage, he announced several future steps for Bangladeshi films and Dhaka International Film Festival. He promised a permanent venue, a fixed budget and year-round activities. He also hoped that such work would continue in the future.
The closing ceremony was presided over by Jalal Ahmed, Chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission.
The award-winning films at this year’s festival are—
Special Audience Award
Guardia de Honor (The Guardian of Honor), director: Joselito Altarejos, country: Philippines
Best Audience Award
Padatik, director: Srijit Mukherjee, country: India
Children’s Film Section
Badal Rahman Award
Kitaliktakh Kirdalim (Where the White Cranes Dance), director: Michael Lukachevsky, country: Russia
Women Filmmaker Section
Special Mention
Takoi Emeno Den (Not Just Any Day), director: Klavdia Korshunova, country: Moldova and Russia
Best Short Film
Scarlet, director: Maria Bobeva, country: Bulgaria
Best Feature Film
Kumva, Which Come from Silence, director: Sarah Malegol, country: France
Best Director
Nuestra Sombra (Our Own Shadow), Director: Agustina Sanchez Gavier, Country: Argentina and Germany
Spiritual Film Section
Best Short Film
Monte Clerigo, Director: Luis Campos, Country: Portugal
Special Mention
Shua (In the Name of Fire), Director: Abhilash Sharma, Country: India
Best Feature Film
Prishelek (The Alien), Director: Ivan Sosnin, Country: Russia
Bangladesh Panorama Talent Section
Best Film (Fipresci Jury): A Lazy Moon, Director: Manon Muntaka
First Runner-up: Fulera Raag Pare Na (Defy), Director: Asif U Hamid
Second Runner-up: Piitrik Vita, Director: Mobarak Hossain
Bangladesh Panorama Full Length
Best Film (Fipresci Jury): Jury: Priy Malti, Director: Shank Das Gupta, Country: Bangladesh
Asian Film Competition
Best Screenplay
Performing Kaoru’s Funeral, Director: Takato Nishi and Noriko Yuosa, Country: Japan
Best Cinematography
Dilsat Kanan, Movie: Demo Ke Pele Gozan Beni Zer (When the Walnut Leaves Turn Yellow), Director: Mehmet Ali Konar, Country: Turkey
Best Actress
Dimeen Jandi, Movie: Melody, Director: Behrouz Sebt Rasul, Country: Iran and Tajikistan
Best Actor
Ryan Sarlock, Movie: Tabestan-e Haman Sal (Summer Time), Director: Mahmoud Kalari, Country: Iran
Best Director
Mahmoud Kalari, Movie: Tabestan-e Haman Sal (Summer Time), Country: Iran
Haofeng Xu O Junfeng Xu, Movie: Man Qian Bao Di (100 Yards), Country: China
Best Film
Yakshanba, Director: Shokir Khalikov, Country: Uzbekistan
