Syed Atik: A two-day film festival was held in Barishal for the first time, bringing together filmmakers, film enthusiasts and audiences in an effort to expand the culture of quality cinema beyond the capital.

Organised by the ESDI Film Society, the festival began on September 25 at the auditorium of the Barishal District Shilpakala Academy. Dr Zahurul Islam Kachi, president of the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies, inaugurated the festival.
Mohammad Nurullah, general secretary of the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies, filmmakers Muhammad Kayum and Khandakar Suman, and actor Haider Ali attended the inaugural programme as special guests. S M Sabbir Newaz Sagar, convener of the Barishal Film Festival Implementation Committee, chaired the event, while ESDI Film Society President Jasim Uddin Emon delivered the welcome address. General Secretary of the organisation Zahurul Islam moderated the programme.
Following the inauguration, audiences watched filmmaker Tanim Noor`s Bonolota Express and Khandakar Suman`s National Film Award-winning film Satao.
Describing the festival as a significant event for Barishal, filmmaker Khandakar Suman said the city had witnessed a new chapter in its cultural history with the staging of its first film festival. He said the festival had brought together films and stories from different parts of the country, allowing Barishal audiences to experience the natural landscape and lives of people from regions far beyond the southern city.
Mohammad Nurullah expressed hope that the event could grow into an international film festival in the future. “Although the event has begun as the Barishal Film Festival, the audience`s enthusiasm and the organisers` arrangements suggest that it could emerge as the Barishal International Film Festival as early as next year,” he said.
The federation welcomes film-related initiatives in every part of the country and will continue to provide support for such programmes, he said.
The second day of the festival featured a film workshop at the District Shilpakala Academy at 11am. National Film Award-winning filmmakers Muhammad Kayum and Khandakar Suman conducted the masterclass, offering participants an opportunity to learn about filmmaking from experienced practitioners.
Four films, including Kura Pakhir Shunye Ura and The University of Chankharpul, were screened at the venue.
The festival drew a large and enthusiastic audience, reflecting growing interest in quality films and film-based cultural activities in Barishal.
Organisers and participants said such initiatives could help decentralise film culture in Bangladesh by creating opportunities for audiences and aspiring filmmakers outside Dhaka to engage directly with local and national cinema.