A six-day (August 26-31) documentary film and project show began in the capital yesterday for the third time to promote independent filmmakers, directors and producers of South Asian countries. Dhaka DocLab, a South Asian project market for documentary filmmakers, has organised the show at the Liberation War Museum in Agargaon.

The Government of Bangladesh, Access to Information Project (A2i Project), Cosmos Foundation and Bengal Foundation provided support for the event, which is held annually in Dhaka since 2017.

At least 17 filmmakers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are attending the show with their innovative projects. The filmmakers, directors, producers and joint producers will have a world-class platform to exhibit their projects, while workshops will be organised to make the participants more efficient in making documentaries.

Experts from Lithuania, Japan, Denmark, India, Belgium, the UK and Serbia will deliver lectures at the workshops for enthusiastic and creative south Asian newcomers in the field. Trainers and officials from both local and international channels, film personalities, television producers, and film and media experts will conduct the workshops. Besides, film experts from South Korea, Spain, China, France, and Germany will take part in the event.

Chairman of Dhaka DocLab, Nasir Uddin Yousuff, unveiled the details at a press conference in the city on August 24, where DocLab Director Tareq Ahmed, management member Samia Zaman, N Rashed Chowdhury and Imran Hossain Kirmani were present.  

Nasir Uddin said that this programme has been creating exciting opportunities for South Asian filmmakers as documentaries are gaining momentum. 

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will attend the closing ceremony as chief guest on August 31, while State Minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid, will be present as a guest of honour at the event.