Online Desk : Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said films could play a unique role in building a beautiful society, a state, and the world as well.

“The timeless films of the country had played a role in the freedom movement, in the struggle of independence, and in building the state after independence. Films show paths to the society,” he said, addressing the closing ceremony of the 20th Dhaka International Film Festival at an auditorium of the National Museum in the capital.

Rainbow Film Society organised the festival.

Shilpakala Academy director general Liakat Ali Lucky and Dhaka Club president Khandaker Mashiuzzaman Romel addressed the function as special guests with Rainbow Film Society board member Mafidul Haque in the chair. Festival director Ahmed Muztaba Jamal conducted it.

Extending thanks to the organizer for organizing the festival amid the COVID-19 situation, Hasan said films give entertainment, and a good movie shows paths to the society as well as the state. “Films open the third eye of a society,” he added.

Mentioning that people are becoming self-centered in the current world, he said films can play a pivotal role in this issue so that people can think about others` wellbeing.

Terming the film industry ‘one of the oldest media in Bangladesh’, he said the industry started its journey at the initiative of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1957.

Now, the present government under the supervision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken various initiatives to make the industry vibrant, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

The minister said the government’s aim is to bring back the golden era of the country`s film industry and capture the global cinema market.

Entrepreneurs would get loans with 5 percent interest in metropolitan areas and 4.5 percent outside of metropolitan areas to construct or reconstruct cinema halls or Cineplex, he said, adding a fund of Taka 1,000 crore has been formed in this regard as per the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hasan said the number of grants and amounts have been increased for making films.

The festival was inaugurated on January 25 where 225 films from 70 countries were screened at different places including National Museum and Public Library.

Later, the minister handed over prizes among the winners.

Koozhangal of India has won the best film award while The Other Side of the River won the best documentary award, A Summer Place of France won the short documentary film award and Sahar Banu of Iran won the best feature film award.

Films Chandrabati Kotha and Lal Moroger Jhuti of Bangladesh won the best films award in the category of audiences.

Source: BSS