DIFF Day 1: Adnan Al Rajeev-produced ‘Radikals’ to screen today
The 23rd edition of the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) kicks off today and is scheduled to run until January 19. This year's festival will showcase 220 films from 75 countries across 10 categories, including 44 Bangladeshi films.
The opening ceremony, scheduled for 4pm at the Bangladesh National Museum Main Auditorium, will set the tone for the nine-day event. Festival Director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal confirmed the details at a press conference held earlier this week.
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The ceremony will be presided over by Jalal Ahmed, chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission and executive member of the festival committee. Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam will attend as the chief guest, and Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen, along with Xu Yang, director of the International Department of the China Film Administration, will join as special guests.
The festival is set to kick off with the screening of the Chinese film "Moon Man" (directed by Zhang Chiyu), a 2022 science fiction comedy that follows the story of the "last human in the universe" stranded on the moon after an asteroid wipes out life on Earth. With a worldwide gross of over $460 million, "Moon Man" is a box-office sensation, and the opening screening promises to be an exciting start to the festival.
The 23rd edition is bringing a unique set of films, as well as cultural events, exhibitions, and masterclasses. Throughout the festival, screenings will take place at various venues, including the National Museum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Green University of Bangladesh Auditorium, and North South University.
Tomorrow (January 12), seven short films will be screened in commemoration of the martyrs of the July-August uprising, in locations including the Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the National Museum and the National Art Gallery of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
In addition, the festival comprises a painting exhibition at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka, from January 9 to 17. The exhibition features works by both new and veteran artists, adding a cultural layer to the celebration of global cinema.
The two-day masterclass, a festival highlight, will take place from January 17 to 18. Prominent film professionals like Chinese director Zhang Yudi, Serbian film scholar Prof Dragen Milinkovic, Norwegian film producer Augie Hoffert, and Bangladeshi cinematographer Rashed Zaman will share their expertise in a series of insightful sessions at the Cineplex auditorium of the National Museum.
While this year's festival is marked by a reduced foreign delegation due to budgetary constraints, the event remains as vital as ever, offering a platform for filmmakers, critics, and audiences to come together. This year, six Indian films, including "Padatik", will be featured, continuing the festival's tradition of showcasing regional talent.
The closing ceremony, which will be held on January 19 at the National Museum, will be attended by Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki.
With the festival's slogan "Better Film, Better Audience, Better Society," the 23rd Dhaka International Film Festival aims to bring diverse cinematic experiences to Dhaka's audiences, fostering greater cultural exchange through the medium of film.
Here are some of the screening schedules for today:
Opening Film: "Moon Man"
Director: Zhang Chiyu
Country: China
Year: 2022
Venue: National Museum - Sufia Kamal Auditorium
Screening Date: January 11, 2025
Time: 4:00pm
Film: "Llueven las flores, los piratas y el tesoro de la bruja" ("Rain of Flowers, the Pirates and the Witch's Treasure")
Director: Faustino Alanís
Country: Mexico
Duration: 18 min
Screening Time: 10:30am
Film: "Miro"
Director: Hossein Rigi
Country: Iran
Duration: 97 min
Screening Time: 10:30am
Film: "The Silent Route"
Director: Merve Cirisoglu
Country: UK
Duration: 9 min
Screening Time: 1:00pm
Film: "Ootidé" ("Ootid")
Director: Eglė Razumaitė
Country: Lithuania
Duration: 11 min
Screening Time: 1:00pm
Film: "Gompang-i" ("Walk in")
Director: Han-eol Park
Country: South Korea
Duration: 15 min
Screening Time: 1:00pm
Film: "The Nature of Dogs"
Director: Pom Bunsermvicha
Duration: 28 min
Screening Time: 3:00pm
Film: "Radikals"
Director: Arvin Belamno
Duration: 21 min
Screening Time: 7:00pm
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy - National Art Gallery Auditorium:
Film: "Zabor" (Fence)
Director: Lev Evlampiev
Country: Russia
Duration: 25 min
Screening Time: 10:30am
Film: "Sanad"
Director: Noor Al-Nasr
Country: Qatar
Duration: 20 min
Screening Time: 1:00pm
Film: "Nobody Knows"
Director: Abdulwahab Abdulrazak
Country: Iraq
Duration: 8 min
Screening Time: 3:30pm
Film: "Zai Shao Nv Hua Ying Xia" ("Within A Budding Grove")
Director: Hoby Zhang
Country: China
Duration: 110 min
Screening Time: 5:30pm
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