The Dhaka International Film Festival was founded by Rainbow Film Society. It was originally created as an annual event, but became a biennial festival in 1995. In 2017, the DIFF returned to being held on an annual basis. The main tasks of the festival are to introduce the local audience to the mainstream cinema from all over the world, to contribute to the development of Bangladesh’s film industry and to support South Asian filmmakers.
The Dhaka International Film Festival screens about 170 films from approximately 60 countries. The program is divided into several sections. The main competition showcases feature films from Asia and Australia. The festival’s international jury chooses winners in several categories including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Script, and Best Cinematography. Winners receive a trophy, a certificate, and a considerable monetary prize.
Alongside the international competition, the program features a number of non-competitive sections such as Retrospective, Cinema of the World (one film from this category is awarded with the festival’s Audience Award), Nordic Film Session, Children’s Film, Short and Independent Film, Women Filmmakers, Spiritual Films. The Retrospective section can include films made by Asian, Australian, Latin American, African and European filmmakers.
The competition is open to feature-length fictional films from Asia and Australia only. Documentary films and short films can be featured in other special sections where it is deemed fit. All films screened at the festival are selected by a special committee.
Alongside competitive and non-competitive screenings, the DIFF hosts several industry events including the Dhaka Cine Workshop, the International Conference on Women in Cinema, and a conference on Bangladesh films. The Dhaka Cine Workshop is organized by the International Film Critics Association of Bangladesh for aspiring filmmakers, film critics and journalists.
Photo: dhakafilmfestival.org
