Renowned film critic and researcher Zakir Hossain Raju has been appointed as the Netpac jury for the Asian cinema category at the upcoming 80th Venice Film Festival. This category will recognise the best films selected from across Asia. 

Notably, after a hiatus of more than two decades, the festival is reestablishing a dedicated award for outstanding films within the Asian category.

Established in 1990, Netpac is an acronym for the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema. It is a global entity with the primary aim of fostering enhanced comprehension and admiration for Asian movies and filmmakers. Netpac's inception coincided with the emergence of Asian cinema, which was gaining recognition and significance on the global stage, despite being relatively unfamiliar both within the region and beyond.

Zakir Hossain expressed his excitement about the role, acknowledging the Venice Film Festival's global significance. He emphasised the honour of contributing to the Asian cinema segment of the festival, which he sees as a source of pride for both himself and the Bangladeshi film industry. 

The director believes that his participation in the festival will further elevate the country's film culture, especially at a time when Bangladeshi cinema is gaining recognition and accolades on international stages.

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Joining Zakir Hossain as co-judges are Teresa Cavina and Vieira Langerova. Cavina, previously the Artistic Director of the Rome International Film Festival, and Vieira Langerova, an esteemed Czech film critic and researcher, complete the trio of judges.

Asked about the role they will play at the festival, Raju shared in the media, "My fellow judges and I collectively possess extensive experience in the world of cinema. This year's Venice Film Festival places a significant spotlight on Asian cinema. Our collective responsibility is to identify the standout films within this category."

Scheduled to take place from August 30 to September 9, the festival promises to be an exciting showcase of cinematic artistry.

Zakir Hossain Raju is no stranger to the world of film evaluation. In the past, he held the position of chief judge for the Asian Cinema section at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in both 2015 and 2020. He has also been a judge at various prestigious festivals, including those in Hawaii, South Korea, France, and Australia.

Raju, a filmmaker, writer, researcher, and professor, has contributed significantly to the field of film studies. With an array of research papers on Asian cinema, he also serves as the head of the Department of Media and Communication at Independent University (IUB).