The 19th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) will kick off tomorrow at the main auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum. This year's festival is dedicated to the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Dr A K Abdul Momen MP is expected to be the chief guest on the occasion, along with Indian High Commissioner H.E. Vikram K Doraiswami as a special guest. Owing to the ongoing pandemic, the DIFF will be held in a hybrid format, with both physical and virtual arrangements.

"Leaders Who Changed the World", dedicated to Bangabandhu, is a special segment this year. The themes of the films in this segment are on world leaders who have fought for their nations, in search for democracy and freedom of the people. "Bengal no Chichi Lama" (The Father of Bangladesh) directed by Nagisa Ōshima, "Motorcycle Diaries" directed by Walter Salles, "The Lenin Factor" directed by Vladimir Khotinenko, "Ammar" (Arafat) directed by Jad Abi khalil, "The Making of the Mahatma" directed by Shyam Benegal, "Uzicka republika" (67 Days The Republic of Uzhitze) directed by Zivorad "Zika" Mitrovic, "Anecdotes About Fidel" directed by Estela Bravo, and "Amar Babar Naam" directed by Fazle Azim Juwel will be screened during this segment.

A tribute section, honouring the Asian Oscar-winning cinema titan Satyajit Ray on his birth centenary, will be organised. Besides screening his works, a seminar will be arranged on January 20 at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Cultural activist and Trustee Bangladesh Liberation War Museum Mofidul Hoque will present the keynote paper on "Satyajit Ray: National as Global". Eminent actor Sharmila Tagore and veteran actor Dhritiman Chatterjee will join virtually as discussants along with Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Art collector, critic and teacher of Fine Art and Film, Moinuddin Khaled, will also join. Renowned actor and Member of Parliament Asaduzzaman Noor will preside over the session.

Festival Director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal mentioned at the press conference that necessary precautions will be taken during the film screenings, and urged the audience to maintain and respect physical distancing guidelines. "We will take safety precautions, involving masks, sanitisers and seating arrangements to maintain physical distancing.  I request the audience to help us maintain the rules," he urged. Chairman Kiswar Kamal, Festival Pattron M Hamid, Festival Advisor Rafiquzzaman and Festival Juries Moinuddin Khaled, Rokeya Prachy and Ferdous Ahmed were also present at the press conference.

Celebrated actor Ferdous Ahmed will participate as a jury in the Asian Films Competition section. "After spending more than two decades in the industry, this is the first time that I will be a jury at a festival," he said. In fact, film festivals propelled towards my career in this industry. I remember Babita apa, Amzad Hossain bhai went to Tashkent festivals. I used to dream about going to such events, and I wanted to be a part of them. I believe any film festival opens an opportunity for cinematic discussions and learnings."

Noted actor Rokeya Prachy also urged the audience to watch the films that are being screened at the festival. "It is important to watch films from different parts of the world. This year with the pandemic, audience will be able to watch films online if they are unable to attend otherwise. A filmmaker cannot make a film alone; the audience plays a big part in maintaining the ecosystem of the industry."

225 films from 73 countries will be screened at Alliance Française de Dhaka, Star Cineplex, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Central Public Library Auditorium and Bangladesh National Museum Auditorium.

The DIFF will be using a virtual platform for the first time, besides the cinema halls with their regular categories,  Asian Cinema, Retrospective, Bangladesh Panorama, World Cinema, Children Films, Women Filmmakers, Short and Independent Films and Spiritual Movies. The 7th Women in Cinema Conference and 3rd West Meets East programmes will also take place at the festival. For more information, visit their official website: http://www.dhakafilmfestival.org/