Fourth edition of Dhaka DocLab kicks off online

Dhaka Doclab, an international documentary co-production project market in Bangladesh commenced online on Tuesday with a three-day virtual workshop.

Like all major events this year, the fourth edition of this unique international workshop-cum-market pitching programme, which also promotes South Asian filmmakers in the international market, is being held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dhaka DocLab’s Chairman Nasir Uddin Yousuf, Dhaka DocLab Director Tareq Ahmed, Trustee of Liberation War Museum Mofidul Haque, Founder/President of Documentary Resource Initiative (DRI) Kolkata and Indian director, editor and cinematographer Nilotpal Majumdar, filmmaker and representing the Documentary Association of Pakistan (DAP) Anam Abbas, Doc Edge New Zealand Director and Trustee Alex Lee, Managing Director of Congoo bvba, Belgium Paul Pouwels and Executive Producer of NHK, Japan Ryota Kotani spoke at the Dhaka DocLab-2020 virtual inaugural session.

In the introductory session, 14 filmmakers from around the world (ten from South Asia, two from New Zealand and one each from Australia and Malaysia) and eight observers (four from Bangladesh and four from Pakistan) participated. Dhaka DocLab Director Tareq Ahmed moderated the session.

“Dhaka Independent Film Network (DIFN) is organising the DocLab since 2017. Generally, the event comprises a four-day mentoring workshop along with a two-day documentary project pitching sessions. However, our schedule had to be split this year due to the pandemic,” Ahmed told UNB.

The categories are – South Asian Projects, Asia Pacific projects and Projects at Work in Progress. The projects and pitch sessions for the Asia Pacific category will be held in collaboration with DocEdge Festival, New Zealand. Participants of the previous three editions of Dhaka DocLab will get the chance to join the special edition of Work in Progress pitching.

“It is difficult to organise the entire programme online. That’s why we’ve divided it into two segments,” Ahmed said. “The lab for participants of South Asia and Asia Pacific regions will be held from August 24 to 27 and pitching for all categories will be held from September 29 to 30 September.”

South Asian Category projects include Chronicles of Pandemic: Rawyan Sayema (Bangladesh),  EXIT: Sumira Roy (India ), Of Roots, rebels & memories: Debalina Majumder (India ), Ghost Boat: Tanim Yusuf (Bangladesh), They Call Her Mafia: Kushal Batunge (India ), Dreamers Don’t Use A Full Stop: Tahrima Khan Tonni (Bangladesh), Higher: Asmita Sirish (Nepal), Jute Days of Our Life: Ishtiak Shaon (Bangladesh), Afloat: Arkus (India) and An insignia of a Forced Winter: Azimesh Saha (India).

Asia Pacific Category projects include Laura’s choice by Sam Lara (Australia), 2D Love by Abigail Egden (New Zealand), Pacific Mother by Katherine McRae (New Zealand), Shh… by Diam – Yih Wen Chen (Malaysia) and Writing on the Wall by Aditi Sharma (India). Besides, They Call Her Mafia by Kushal Batunge (India), Higher by Asmita Sirish (Nepal) and Ghost Boat by Tanim Yusuf (Bangladesh) will get the scholarship opportunities offered by Dhaka DocLab management and will not have to pay the registration fees (USD 100) for participation in the lab and pitching sessions.

Government and non-governmental organisations, including the Cosmos Foundation, the Bengal Foundation and the Access to Information Project (a2i), along with the Government of Bangladesh are cooperating with this initiative.

The 4th Edition of Dhaka DocLab will end on August 27.