Cinema Bangladesh has arranged their flagship event, Global Youth Film Festival Bangladesh 2019, at Shilpakala Academy in Mymensingh.

The festival uses cinema as a tool of communication for social, religious and political issues. It encourages teens and young adults to discuss issues that affect today’s society, through films. Bangladesh is a nation of cultural diversity. With that in mind, the festival not only screens films from different cities, but also magnifies the country’s heritage and culture. This year, it highlighted the issue of climate change. Eminent cultural personality Ramendu Majumder inaugurated the event on September 5.

Film producer Hemanta Sadeeq, festival coordinator Asma Akter Liza and theatre activist Abul Monsur were present among others.

 Syed Saiful Alam, the media manager of the event, said that they have successfully arranged two festivals in Rangpur and Laxmipur, and intend to arrange more in other parts of the country in the near future.

The jury panel for the International Competition category at the festival consisted of International Federation of Film Critics member Sadia Khalid Reeti, internationally acclaimed filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and Iranian filmmaker Morteza Farshbarf. Over 1,700 films, produced by young artistes from 101 countries, were submitted for the category. 74 films from 35 countries were selected for the main competition, according to sources. Eight films will receive awards at the closing ceremony.

Around 50 young filmmakers participated in a workshop held at the event. Film producers, Golam Rabbani Biplab, Prashun Rahman, Jasim Ahmed and writer Shadat Hossain were the trainers. Three full-length feature films were also screened at the festival, which concludes today.