15th International Children’s Film Festival begins in Dhaka

The 15th International Children’s Film Festival kicked off in Dhaka on Saturday with the screening of German filmmaker Dennis Gansel-directed film Jim Button and the Wild 13. The festival was inaugurated through virtual mode by the Information and Broadcasting Minister of Bangladesh Hasan Mahmud. State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak was present as special guest on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Zunaid Ahmed Palak praised the Children’s Film Society of Bangladesh (CFSB) for grooming the future leaders by organising such festivals. He called upon the youth to develop leadership skills using the resources available through the digital platforms.

The festival will showcase 117 films from 38 countries selected out of 2100 films submitted for the festival. They will compete in the international competition category which has eminent film personalities from Bangladesh Giasuddin Selim, Amitabh Reza Chowdhury and Shabnam Ferdousi as jury members.

Young Bangladeshi filmmakers between the age of 19-25 are competing under the Young Bangladeshi Talent category. Nine Bangladeshi films are being showcased at the festival.

Four workshops are also being organised during the festival in which eminent filmmakers from Bangladesh will take part. The week-long festival will end on March 11.

Children’s Film Society Bangladesh has been organising the film festival since 2008.