21st Dhaka Int’l Film Festival ends

The 21st edition of the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF), one of the longest-running cultural festivals in the country ended yesterday. Rainbow Film Society has been organising the DIFF every year since 1992 with support from different organisations.

The closing ceremony of the nine-day festival followed by Award ceremony was held yesterday at National Museum, Shahbag in the capital. Information minister Hasan Mahmud was present as chief guest while Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker, Director General of Bangladesh National Museum Md Kamruzzaman and Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Liaquat Ali Lucky were present as special guests at the festival’s closing ceremony.

The 21st DIFF screened a total of 252 films, with participation from 71 countries in competitive categories spanning ‘Asian Cinema’ ‘Retrospective’, ‘Bangladesh Panorama ‘, ‘Cinema of the World’, ‘Children’s Films’, ‘Spiritual Films’, ‘Women Filmmakers’ and ‘Short and Independent Films’ categories.

Several other awards were presented to the winners at the ceremony.

The Badal Rahman Award for Best Children’s Film

Mazel a tajemství lesa (Martin and the Magical Forest)

Asian Competition

Best Film- The Mother

Best Cinematographer - Anton Anisimov for Podelniki (The Riot)

Best Script Writer - Anik Dutta for Aparajito

Best Actress - Jetki Narayan for Prappeda

Best Actor - Ikkei Watanabe for Nakodo -Matchmakers (Marriage Counselor)

Best director - Ali Ghavitan for Zendegi va Zendegi (Life & Life)

Special Audience Award - JK 1971, Bangladesh

Audience Award – ‘Hawa’, Bangladesh

Spiritual Film Section

Best Documentary - Mahatma Haffkine

Best Feature film - Ghore Fera (Home Coming)

Women Filmmakers’ Section

Best Documentary - Our Mother, Grandmother, Prime Minister: Sirimavo

Best Director - Katharina Woll for Alle Wollen Geliebt Werden (Everybody Wants To Be Loved)

Best Feature Film - Akouse Me (Listen)

Bangladesh Panorama Section

Best Film Award by FIPRESCI Jury - Saatao

Best Short Film Award By FIPRESCI Jury - Could You Be Free Yet Locked In?