The Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) has unveiled the jury board for its prestigious Asian Films Competition. This year, acclaimed Bangladeshi actor, presenter, and architect Aupee Karim will join the panel as a judge, alongside five other internationally renowned film professionals.
Festival Director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal confirmed that the jury for the 24th edition includes Norwegian producer Ingrid Lill Høgtun; Bangladesh’s actress and architect Syeda Tuhin Ara Karim (Aupee Karim); Malaysian media executive and content strategist Teng Lee Yein; Turkish filmmaker Reis Çelik.
Zamal noted that a record number of films have been submitted from various parts of Asia and around the world, marking one of the strongest responses in the festival’s history. “With this overwhelming response, we are making every effort to elevate the festival to a more international scale,” he said.
Organized by the Rainbow Film Society under the theme “Aesthetic Films, Enlightened Viewers, Enlightened Society,” the festival will take place from January 10 to 18 next year.
A total of 250 full-length and short films from 75 countries will be screened, including 67 films from Bangladesh.
As in previous years, the festival will feature 10 sections: Asian Cinema Section, Retrospective, Tribute, Wide Angle, Bangladesh Panorama, Cinema of the World, Children Films, Women Films, Short and Independent Films, and Spiritual Films.
Screenings will be held across three venues: Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh National Museum Auditorium, and Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) Auditorium.
The 24th edition will also celebrate the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema with a special “Chinese Film Week,” showcasing 15 short and feature films from China.
Additionally, the festival will host its fourth Masterclass series, featuring distinguished filmmakers from three different countries.
Since 1992, the Rainbow Film Society has been organizing the Dhaka International Film Festival. Beyond the festival, the organization also publishes the quarterly film magazine ‘Celluloid’ and regularly hosts film screenings, seminars, and classical music events.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
