10th International Children’s Film Festival 2017

A grand carnival of young talents

By Bipul K Debnath

Last Thursday, young movie fans were watching ‘Avishap’ (Curse), a short film by Falguni Alam, a 5th-year medical student, at the Sufia Kamal auditorium of the National Museum in Shahbagh. The time was 4.30pm and a pin-drop silence made the hall a perfect place to enjoy a film. The 19-minute film showed the views of two rural teenagers, named Rafique and Shefali, who decide to get married in late autumn. Meanwhile, Rafique’s uncle becomes bankrupt and his brother goes missing. On top of that, a group of young people come to the village to inform them about the effects of climate change. Then they both go to see its destructive results.
Filmmakers, delegates, jury board members, parents and guardians, and above all, thoughtful moviegoers livened up one of the main venues of the recently held 10th International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh. They all shared their views cordially with each other. Some of them talked to Y&I about their experiences, aspirations and thoughts about the film carnival.
Estiak Hossain Shaikat, a 17-year-old director and a first-year HSC student of Shaheed Police Smrity College, said: “The name of my film is ‘Patience’ and its duration is four minutes. I made the film with my friend’s camera, a Cannon 600D, in 2016. My film is an educative one where the audience can learn how important it is to have patience.”
“The story is all about patience, which is based on Rubik’s Cube. This is the first screening in an international festival. I attended this festival last year as an audience. This time, the most interesting fact is that I took part in a workshop conducted by Billie JD Porter (a British journalist and filmmaker). I learned basic filmmaking skills from her. My parents support me every time regarding my filmmaking,” Shaikat shared.
Mohammad Al-Amin Hossain, 16, a class-10 student of Rahamatullah Model High School in Lalbagh who attended as a delegate, said, “This is the first time for me, so I can learn about making films. I took part in a workshop by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon at the Public Library seminar room. As I want to be a filmmaker, the film festival is giving me a lot and inspiring me to be a filmmaker.”
Maria Akter, 16, a first-year student of Badrunnesa Government Mohila College, who attended as a delegate, said: “I am a regular (participant) in plays, open-stage performance and other cultural programmes. I have talent, but no way to express it. It is my desire to be an actress and filmmaker. This is why I am here. I hope the rest of the days, I will be here to enjoy films and learn a lot.”
Redwanul Haque Fardin, 17, a first-year student of Rifles Public College, who participated in the festival, told this correspondent, “The name of my film is ‘Maa’ and this is my second film. The duration is 9 minutes. I started working on this film last September. There is a professional actress in my film, her name is Sabina Tareque. Last year, my animated film ‘Utthan’ was screened in the film festival. Also, my film ‘Dhushor’ was awarded at ‘Josephites Fest’ of St Joseph College in 2016.”
“The story begins with a boy who hates his mother for her blindness. He does not reveal his mother’s identity to his friends. Then the boy goes abroad for higher studies. He does not take care of his mother, he even rejects her at the airport. Later, a letter from his mother comes to him. After reading the letter, he starts crying. The rest is a twist for the viewers,” Fardin said, summarising his film.
 Abdul Ela, 20, the young director of ‘Master of Puppets’ and a student of diploma engineering at Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, said: “This is my second time. Last year, I acted as an actor in the film ‘Point Of View’, which was screened at the festival. This year, Noor-e-Alam Taimur and I made this film. From the very beginning of mankind, the human race has been indulging in sins. This is a story of the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’. Here is a question for the viewers: Are we agents of free will or just some fragments of imaginations?”
Mahabubul Antor, 20, who completed his A-levels recently, directed ‘Indefinite Time’, a social film, said:
“I made this film in 2016 and it is being screened for the first. Till now, I have made 13 short films and 12 TV shows on teens for GTV. I have also acted in three films.”
“From the lowest part of the society, a strange street boy comes to show us the right path. It is an old story in a new way. The rest is a twist for the viewers,” said Antor about his film.
Mahmoud Hamash, 33, a director and producer from Jordan, said, “This is my first time participating in the children’s film festival. I found the event well organised. I think it is very important to arrange this kind of festival. And of course, it must enlighten the future of children.”
“‘Basaer Journey’ is a future documentary film that will take the viewers on a journey with Majed and his blind team, a journey of hope, love and team work, to make the first Arabic robot and electronics team for blind people,” Hamash said of his film. “In my country, there are no such events. So, after getting experience from this festival, we will arrange such a programme in our country,” he added.
Akber Ali, 28, a movie buff from Mohammadpur, said: “I watched four movies today. The film I found most interesting is a German film called ‘Nelly’s Adventure’. Thirteen-year-old Nelly’s holiday in Romania takes a very dramatic turn when she accidentally discovers her family’s secret plan.”
When asked what the secret plan was, he said viewers should come and enjoy the movie: “Of course, this programme is about children. So, I want to tell the guardians to bring their kids to enjoy films. Truly, the event will help to increase the creativity of their children.”
Ribhu Roddur, 13, a class-7 student of Nalanda School, an academy under Chhayanaut, who lives in Gias Uddin Residential area of Dhaka University, said: “This is my first time coming to the fest. I watched an Iranian film named ‘Old Friend’. I shall try to come again. At first, I got every information about the event. Then I got some experience. Seeing the posters of several films, I hope, I will get more experience from my next visit.”
This year, the festival included sections for child filmmakers, young Bangladeshi filmmakers, social films and international child filmmakers, as well as an international film competition. The annual event, organised by Children’s Film Society Bangladesh, was held January 24-30 at 14 venues in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Rangpur, while it will continue in Chittagong from February 3 to 4.

Photos: Courtesy

10th International Childrens Film Festival 2017

A grand carnival of young talents

By Bipul K Debnath Last Thursday, young movie fans were watching Avishap (Curse), a short film by Falguni Alam, a 5th-year medical student, at the Sufia Kamal auditorium of the National Museum in Shahbagh. The time was 4.30pm and a pin-drop silence made the hall a perfect place to enjoy a film. The 19-minute film showed the views of two rural teenagers, named Rafique and Shefali, who decide to get married in late autumn. Meanwhile, Rafiques uncle becomes bankrupt and his brother goes missing. On top of that, a group of young people come to the village to inform them about the effects of climate change. Then they both go to see its destructive results. Filmmakers, delegates, jury board members, parents and guardians, and above all, thoughtful moviegoers livened up one of the main venues of the recently held 10th International Childrens Film Festival Bangladesh. They all shared their views cordially with each other. Some of them talked to YI about their experiences, aspirations and thoughts about the film carnival. Estiak Hossain Shaikat, a 17-year-old director and a first-year HSC student of Shaheed Police Smrity College, said: The name of my film is Patience and its duration is four minutes. I made the film with my friends camera, a Cannon 600D, in 2016. My film is an educative one where the audience can learn how important it is to have patience. The story is all about patience, which is based on Rubiks Cube. This is the first screening in an international festival. I attended this festival last year as an audience. This time, the most interesting fact is that I took part in a workshop conducted by Billie JD Porter (a British journalist and filmmaker). I learned basic filmmaking skills from her. My parents support me every time regarding my filmmaking, Shaikat shared. Mohammad Al-Amin Hossain, 16, a class-10 student of Rahamatullah Model High School in Lalbagh who attended as a delegate, said, This is the first time for me, so I can learn about making films. I took part in a workshop by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon at the Public Library seminar room. As I want to be a filmmaker, the film festival is giving me a lot and inspiring me to be a filmmaker. Maria Akter, 16, a first-year student of Badrunnesa Government Mohila College, who attended as a delegate, said: I am a regular (participant) in plays, open-stage performance and other cultural programmes. I have talent, but no way to express it. It is my desire to be an actress and filmmaker. This is why I am here. I hope the rest of the days, I will be here to enjoy films and learn a lot. Redwanul Haque Fardin, 17, a first-year student of Rifles Public College, who participated in the festival, told this correspondent, The name of my film is Maa and this is my second film. The duration is 9 minutes. I started working on this film last September. There is a professional actress in my film, her name is Sabina Tareque. Last year, my animated film Utthan was screened in the film festival. Also, my film Dhushor was awarded at Josephites Fest of St Joseph College in 2016. The story begins with a boy who hates his mother for her blindness. He does not reveal his mothers identity to his friends. Then the boy goes abroad for higher studies. He does not take care of his mother, he even rejects her at the airport. Later, a letter from his mother comes to him. After reading the letter, he starts crying. The rest is a twist for the viewers, Fardin said, summarising his film. Abdul Ela, 20, the young director of Master of Puppets and a student of diploma engineering at Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, said: This is my second time. Last year, I acted as an actor in the film Point Of View, which was screened at the festival. This year, Noor-e-Alam Taimur and I made this film. From the very beginning of mankind, the human race has been indulging in sins. This is a story of the Seven Deadly Sins. Here is a question for the viewers: Are we agents of free will or just some fragments of imaginations? Mahabubul Antor, 20, who completed his A-levels recently, directed Indefinite Time, a social film, said: I made this film in 2016 and it is being screened for the first. Till now, I have made 13 short films and 12 TV shows on teens for GTV. I have also acted in three films. From the lowest part of the society, a strange street boy comes to show us the right path. It is an old story in a new way. The rest is a twist for the viewers, said Antor about his film. Mahmoud Hamash, 33, a director and producer from Jordan, said, This is my first time participating in the childrens film festival. I found the event well organised. I think it is very important to arrange this kind of festival. And of course, it must enlighten the future of children. Basaer Journey is a future documentary film that will take the viewers on a journey with Majed and his blind team, a journey of hope, love and team work, to make the first Arabic robot and electronics team for blind people, Hamash said of his film. In my country, there are no such events. So, after getting experience from this festival, we will arrange such a programme in our country, he added. Akber Ali, 28, a movie buff from Mohammadpur, said: I watched four movies today. The film I found most interesting is a German film called Nellys Adventure. Thirteen-year-old Nellys holiday in Romania takes a very dramatic turn when she accidentally discovers her familys secret plan. When asked what the secret plan was, he said viewers should come and enjoy the movie: Of course, this programme is about children. So, I want to tell the guardians to bring their kids to enjoy films. Truly, the event will help to increase the creativity of their children. Ribhu Roddur, 13, a class-7 student of Nalanda School, an academy under Chhayanaut, who lives in Gias Uddin Residential area of Dhaka University, said: This is my first time coming to the fest. I watched an Iranian film named Old Friend. I shall try to come again. At first, I got every information about the event. Then I got some experience. Seeing the posters of several films, I hope, I will get more experience from my next visit. This year, the festival included sections for child filmmakers, young Bangladeshi filmmakers, social films and international child filmmakers, as well as an international film competition. The annual event, organised by Childrens Film Society Bangladesh, was held January 24-30 at 14 venues in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Rangpur, while it will continue in Chittagong from February 3 to 4. Photos: Courtesy