15th International short film festival begins in Dhaka

Photo: UNB
Photo: UNB

The 15th edition of International Short and Independent Film Festival (ISIFF) showcasing a large list of short films made by renowned national and international filmmakers began in Dhaka on 7 December.

Over two-hundred short and independent films from 45 countries will be screened in this year’s festival. Each screening comprises with various genres including short fiction, short animation, short documentary, short experimental and feature films.

Besides regular screening sessions, other special screenings are also scheduled including Lithuanian film package, FTI student film package, Retrospective of Abbas Kiarostami and Kumar Shahani, and a seminar titled Alamgir Kabir Memorial Lecture.

The weeklong biennale film festival was inaugurated by foreign minister AK Abdul Momen at the Central Public Library Auditorium in Shahbagh.

Renowned Indian filmmaker Kumar Sahani and Indian film, television and radio director-screenwriter Kamal Swaroop attended the festival as special guests. Presided by festival chairman Nasiruddin Yousuff Bacchu, the inaugural event was also joined by Bangladesh Short Film Forum president Zahidur Rahim Anjan and festival director N Rashed Chowdhury, among others.

The films’ showtime will be at 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm in all of its three venues- Central Public Library, National Museum and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy till 13 December.

Organized by Bangladesh Short Film Forum, the festival is partnered by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Goethe Institut, Aliance Francaise de Dhaka, Institut Francais and Shiksha – Shangskrity Shohay Foundation, in association with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Information and Ministry of Cultural Affairs.