Three filmmakers awarded for films on transgender

Bandhu Social Welfare Society (BANDHU) awarded three filmmakers who made films on transgender and gender-diverse population. The award ceremony took place at the Kabi Sufia Kamal Auditorium of National Museum on June 21.

At the event, seven short films based on issues of human rights, social acceptance as well as gender-based violence about the transgender, hijra, and gender-diverse population, were screened.

Among the seven, ‘Daak Diye Jaay’ directed by Debasish Kishor got the first prize, while the film ‘Priteeti’ directed by Jannatul Ferdaus Nila won the second prize. As for the third prize, ‘Manush’ directed by Mahfuzur Rahman, and ‘He, She or Them’ directed by Ahmed Sabbir jointly got the prize.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd award winners were given honoured with crests and prize money worth of TK 50,000 TK 40,000 and TK 30000 respectively.

Apart from that, Shariful Islam’s ‘Awaj’, Pantha Chowdhury’s ‘Shundortomo’, and Nawshin Jannatul’s ‘Satya’ were also screened at the event.

Freedom fighter and cultural personality Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu was present at the event as a guest along with the former director-general of BTV M. Hamid, and Anisul Islam Hero, chairperson of Bandhu Social Welfare Society and a prominent classical dancer.

At the event, all the guests agreed on the fact that cinema is a great medium in bringing this backward community to the forefront. It is necessary to make more films on the trance community and exhibit them to people from all walks to create public awareness.