The curtain rose on the 15th edition of ‘International Short & Independent Film Festival’ (ISIF 2019) on Saturday. Organised by Bangladesh Short Film Forum (BSFF), this year’s festival is set to screen 200 films from 45 countries and also featuring commemorative speeches, national seminars, workshops on filmmaking and special screenings.

Foreign Minster AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the seven-day festival at the Central Public Library in Shahbag of the capital. Celebrated Indian filmmaker and screenwriter Kumar Shahani and noted Indian independent filmmaker and screenwriter Kamal Swaroop were present as special guests at the opening ceremony.

Presided over by Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu, also the chairman of the festival committee, the welcome speech was delivered by festival director N Rashed Chowdhury. Also, the president of  BSFF Zahidur Rahim Anjan delivered speech at the event.

Noted Bangladeshi filmmaker and film organiser Morshedul Islam was bestowed with ‘Hiralal Sen Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his contribution to Bangladesh’s independent film.

After the inauguration, five films were screened on the opening day of the festival.

The 15th edition of the festival has been dedicated to the memories of recently-demised three film personalities of Bangladesh—Saidul Anam Tutul, veteran filmmaker and film editor, Anwar Hossain, iconic cinematographer and Muhammad Khasru, the pioneer of film society movement in Bangladesh.

The complete schedule of the festival is available at: http://isiff-bd.org/screening-schedule/