Photo : Messenger
The curtain fell on the 9-day 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) on Sunday afternoon, awarding Qiao Sixue-directed Chinese movie 'The Cord of Life' as the Best Film this year.
A total of 18 awards were given in different categories at the closing ceremony of the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival, at the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in the capital, organised by the Rainbow Film Society.
Notable attendees at the ceremony included State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammed Ali Arafat, Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi, Indian-Bengali actress Sharmila Tagore, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Mokammel Hossain, and Bangladesh National Museum Director General Md Kamruzzaman.
The ceremony, presided over by DIFF Chief Patron Shahriar Alam MP, featured the recognition of outstanding achievements in film. In the Asian Cinema Competition Section, Jagath Manuwarna won the Best Director award for 'Rahas Kiyana Kandu' (Whispering Mountains). Anjan Dutt received the Best Actor Award for 'Chalchitra Ekhon' (Kaleidoscope Again), and Chinese actress Badema was honoured with the Best Actress Award for 'The Cord of Life.'
Other awards included Best Screenplay Writing for 'Dov' (Fortune), directed by Muhiddin Muzaffar (Tajikistan), and Best Cinematography for 'Mighty Afrin - In the Time of Floods,' directed by Angelos Rallis (Bangladesh, France, Greece).
In the Women Filmmakers Section, 'Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest' by Nancy Svendsen (USA) won the Best Documentary Award, and 'Ashghal-ha va Arousak-ha' (Junks and Dolls) directed by Manijeh Hekmat received the Best Feature Film Award. South Korean filmmaker Gyeongmu NOH won Best Director for 'How to Get Your Man Pregnant,' and Chaitali Somadder received a Special Mention for 'Mukti.'
The Spiritual Films Section recognised 'Tuda I Obratno' (There and Back) from Russia as the Best Feature Film, 'Kunanfinda: The Land of Death' from Cuba as the Best Documentary, and 'Surot,' a Bangladeshi film directed by Golam Rabbani, received a Special Mention.
The Best Children Film Badal Rahman Award went to 'Pravas' (Pravas the Tour), directed by Vipul Sharma (India).
The 22nd DIFF showcased 252 films from 71 countries, and alongside screenings, it featured events such as the '10th International Women Filmmakers Conference' and West Meets East: Screenplay Lab. Eminent figures like Dr. Shi Chuan, Majid Majidi, and Anjan Dutt also conducted a day-long master class.
Rainbow Film Society, organizing the Dhaka International Film Festival since 1992, follows the theme ‘Better Film, Better Audience, Better Society.’ The 23rd DIFF is scheduled to take place from January 11-19, 2025.
Messenger/Rocky
