15th Dhaka Intl Film Festival wraps up in style
DL reporter
Talented Bangladeshi filmmaker Tauquir Ahmeds film Oggatonama (The Unnamed), which has already bagged quite a number of prestigious awards, won the Special Mention Award at the 15th edition of Dhaka International Film Festival. Beginning on January 12, the festival screened Oggatonama on January 15 and 17. The festival organisers handed over the crest and certificate to Tauquir Ahmed at the closing ceremony of the festival on January 20 for winning the prestigious award. The closing ceremony of the festival followed by the award ceremony was held at the main auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in the capital. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor attended the event as chief guest and distributed the prizes among the winners. Besides, several films were awarded in six categories such as Best Children Film Badal Rahman Award, Best Documentary Film Section, Women Filmmakers Section, Short and Independent Films, Best Documentary and Competition of the Asian Film Section.
Philippines film Pitong Kabang Palay (Seven Sacks of Rice) directed by Maricel C. Cariaga received Best Children Film Badal Rahman Award, Indian film Baran Pakhis (The Golden Wing) by Bobby Sarma Baruah won Best Audience Award, Russian film Qirmizi Bagh (Red Garden) by Mirbala Salimli won Best Feature Film and Lal Char (The Red Sand) by Nader Chowdhury Special Mention (Feature Film).
Islands of the Monks by Anne Christiane Girardot received Best Documentary Film Award, while Italian film La Sedia Di Cartone (The Special Chair) by Marco Zuin won Special Mention Award in Documentary Film Section.
Iranian film The Cemetery Menby Ali Mardomiwon Best Short Film, while Iranian Nahid, by Ida Panahandeh, awarded as Best Feature in the Women Filmmakers Section.
Turkish-Germany joint venture Until I Lose My Breath by Emine Emel Balci received Special Mention (Feature). Other films also won awards in different categories, such as Semele, directed by Myrsini Aristidou, as Best Short, Chandra by Fateme Ahmadi and Asmita Shrish as Special Mention (Short), Bangladeshi Jonmo Sathi by Shabnam Ferdous as Best Documentary, Mexican EL Tiempo Suspendido (Suspended Time) as Special Mention (Documentary), Syrian film Yaman by Amer-Al-Barzawi as Best Short, Indian Appooppanthaadi by Sivaprasad K.V and Bangladeshi Parallel Journey by Tarek Aziz Nishok as Special Mention (Short).
Myanmar film A Political Life by Soe Arkar Htun and Bhagyale Bachekaharu (Nepal Earthquake: Heroes, Survivors and Miracles) won Best Documentary Award.
In the Competition of the Asian Film Section, FIPRESCI Jury Award goes to The Dark Wind by Hussein Hassan as Best Film, while Cevahir Sahin and Kursat Uresin received the Best Cinematography Award for Turkish film Cold of Kalandar, while Saeed Roostaee received Best Script award Iranian Life and a Day and Soner Caner for Turkish film Rauf. Maisa Abd Elhadi from Palestinian received Best Actress Award for 3000 Nights, Farhad Aslani from Iran as Best Actor for Daughter, Iranian Parviz Shahbazi as Best Director for Malaria and Iranian film Daughter awarded as Best Film.
This time, the 15th DIFF screened a total of 16 Bangladeshi films, including Aynabazi, Oggatonama and Lalchor. Besides, a number of 85 foreign guests participated in the festival. The films were screened simultaneously at the main auditorium and Sufia Kamal Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum, Shawkat Osman Auditorium of Central Public Library, Alliance Franaise de Dhaka, Star Cineplex and EMK Center.
