Clarion call to maintain film standards

A scene from City of Photos, one of the films being screened at the festival

The venue was decorated with colourful balloons and festoons. The song, "Ganey ganey ... nrityo jagey" was rendered with the accompaniment of the "tabla" and the harmonium by the group Ananda Dhwani.

Included in the festival are 160 films of which 45 are entries from Bangladesh. As Abdul Hye put it, "They provide entertainment, aesthetics and experience."

Introductory speeches followed in led by Justice Habibur Rahman, who said that the film festival encourages the flow of culture despite the prevailing turmoil and unrest in the country. He criticised the prevalence of vulgar films which had little constructive message to offer. He quoted from a Charlie Chaplin film by commenting "And that is business!" meaning that vulgar commercial films have captured the market.

To this, Rahman added that films like "Rupban" have encouraged young film makers. He said that short film makers comprise only 10% of the total count of film makers in the country. However, he added that this handful of film makers were doing undoubtedly creative work like "Megher Onek Rong". He lauded film personalities like Morshedul Islam and Tanvir Mokammal as well. He said that freedom of expression should be maintained at any cost; since the outset in 1998. He continued to say that the film festivals have presented foreign films to viewers and made them popular.

Dwelling on the types of films, Rahman said that there were all type of films including animated ones. These, he said, came from 27 countries and included 128 films from Asia, USA, Latin America and the former USSR. He explained that digital cameras and computers are now in use. According to him, "The film-makers must not be dependant on the government only." He made a clarion call to uphold the standard.

Hasnat Abdul Hye added that had it not been for the sufficient backing of patrons and film-makers, the tradition of the film festivals in Dhaka would not be possible. He said that it has its own film aesthetics and that it has been appreciated by critiques and discerning audiences. He said that films from all continents except Africa had participated. He also added, "We have received help from ntv, Maachranga, the Culture, Home and Foreign Affairs Ministries etc. Seminars on film-making will follow, with exchange of views."

Aminul Islam, in his turn said it that the festival would run till December 30 and that there would be relevant seminars in the National Museum. He announced that Baby Islam had won the Hiralal Sen Memorial Award and that Tarek Shahriar was the winner of the Independent Short Film Festival Award.

Three remarkable short films in Technicolor from overseas including two from Russia, concluded the festival.