A five-day film festival will begin today at the TSC Auditorium of Dhaka University in the capital. Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS) has organised the event marking the International Mother Language Day.

The 18th edition of the festival, titled ‘Amar Bhashar Chalachitra’, featuring 18 films will begin today with the screening of ‘Debi’, the biggest blockbuster of the last year.

The film is based on a famous novel ‘Debi’ by Humayun Ahmed, which features the iconic character, Misir Ali. Directed by Anam Biswas, the film stars Chanchal Chowdhury and Jaya Ahsan, two of the most prolific and versatile actors of present time.

 Most of the films in this festival have been made by the contemporary Bangladeshi filmmakers. Besides, some Indian classics are also included in the festival. DUFS is organising the film show for the 18th year. For the third time, DUFS will honour a filmmaker with Hiralal Sen Padak.

Besides film screening, the event will also feature exhibition on the posters of popular yesteryear Bangladeshi films, seminar, and discussion with the cast and crew of the films. The film screening will come to an end on February 14.

To promote Bangla films and to help change the taste of audiences and bring out more talented filmmakers, DUFS has been organising the annual film festival with the slogan ‘Sustha Chalachitra, Sustha Darshak’ since its inception in 2000.