The 23rd Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF), organized by the Rainbow Film Society, is set to run from January 11 to January 19, 2025. This nine-day cinematic event, carrying the theme 'Better Film, Mindful Audience, Enlightened Society,' will celebrate global cinema at venues like the National Museum Auditorium, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Russian Cultural Centre, and Alliance Française Auditorium.
Festival Director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal highlighted the extensive preparations underway to ensure the festival's success. "This event remains Bangladesh's most prominent and esteemed film festival, promoting a sophisticated cultural atmosphere," he stated. He added that 220 films from 70 countries will be screened this year, showcasing fresh works by acclaimed filmmakers.
The festival will include diverse categories such as the Asian Competition, Retrospective, Tributes, Bangladesh Panorama, Wide Angle, Cinema of the World, Children's Films, Spiritual Films, Short and Independent Films, and Women's Film Sessions.
Eight films have already been selected for the Bangladesh Panorama section. The lineup includes 'Shoroter Joba' by Kusum Sikder, 'Ekhane Nongor' by Mehedi Rony, 'Fatima' by Dhrubo Hasan, 'Roktojoba' by Niamul Mukta, 'Boli' by Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury, 'Bataser Fena' by Tanvir Muhammad, 'Agantuk' by Biplob Sarkar, and 'Neel Poddo' by Toufiq Elahi.
In the Asian Competition, films like 'Dreaming & Dying' (Indonesia-Singapore), 'When the Walnut Leaves Turn Yellow' (Turkey), and 'Deal at the Border' (Kyrgyzstan) will be featured.
The Spiritual section will showcase entries like 'Kalachakra' (Russia), 'Raise Me a Memory' (Estonia), 'Monte Clérigo' (Portugal), and '400 Cassettes' (Greece).
Additionally, the festival will present around 40 short films from Bangladesh, further enriching the program and celebrating the nation's cinematic talent.
