From Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, Mukh o Mukhosh, Moina Moti, and Angar, to Iti, Tomari Dhaka --film posters, both vintage and recent, welcomed the visitors as they stepped into the premises of the Teacher's Student Centre (TSC), University of Dhaka (DU) for the five- day film festival, Amar Bhashar Cholochitro 1426.  Organised by Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS), this initiative is arranged annually as a tribute to the martyrs of the Language Movement and honour different languages around the world.

The 19th edition of the festival was inaugurated in the presence of Murad Hasan, State Minister of Information, Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique from the Department of Communication and Journalism, Lailun Nahar Shemi, Chairman of Federation of Film Societies Bangladesh, and the moderator of DUFS, recently. 

The festival features the screening of 19 full length feature films and three short-films alongside interactive sessions with film crews of No Dorai, Kathbirali, and Iti, Tomari Dhaka. Eminent film maker Anjan Dutt will be present in a discussion on his latest work Finally Bhalobasha, tomorrow. Like previous years, a film released in the previous year will be awarded the Hiralal Sen Award, named after the first filmmaker of the subcontinent.

Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique addresses the audience. Photo: Monon Muntaka

The entry at the festival is available for an ticket of BDT 30. "We are planning to donate a significant portion of the money from the tickets for the treatment of Abul Hashem, one of the freedom fighters from our language movement," mentions Ferdous Khan Nirjhor, President of DUFS. The TSC premises is decorated with life-size posters of iconic Bengali films throughout history, provided by Bangladesh Film Archive. The sound and projectors are supported by Jaaz Multimedia.   

The festival will conclude tomorrow. The closing ceremony will be attended by Muhammad Hasan Mahmud, Minister of Information and Dr Muhammad Akhtaruzzaman, Vice Chancellor, DU.