The SNV Young Filmmakers Short Film Screening was held on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the auditorium of Independent University Bangladesh (IUB). The screening and award ceremony of 10 selected short films by young filmmakers in the development sector, along with a short documentary on their journey in the competition “Young Filmmakers in Development” sector, were hosted by Netherlands Development Organization.
With the curtains lifting at 3:35pm, enthusiasm of the energetic audience was heard till the programme concluded at 6:40pm with musical performances and the stage drama called Two Sides of a Coin. Zarin Zeba Khan – the communication advisor at SNV and adjunct faculty at the Business School of Independent University of Bangladesh, expressed gratitude to Enliven for technical support and Ekattor TV, Dhaka Tribune, ABC Radio (89.2 FM) and other media partners for their media coverage.
Creative Eyes, a team from Green University of Bangladesh was the winning team that enthralled the judges with their short film My Garments My family, which was based on sexual and reproductive health rights. The team received the award and a prize money of Tk50,000 handed over by Mujibur Rahman Khan.
High Hopes, a team from Independent University Bangladesh, received the first runner-up award from Zarin Zeba Khan for their short film Priyo-opriyo.
Color Membrane, a team from Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College received the second runner-up award for their short film TRAP.
The programme was an initiative taken by SNV to empower young minds through their contribution of fresh, innovative and creative ideas into filmmaking in the development sector. Students were given the opportunity to attend a four-day expert training session on SNV’s thematic area. They were also provided with technical guidance from Enliven to develop their ideas behind their documentary film productions.
Responded by 177 applicants from 35 universities, only nine winning teams were selected for the final round. The winners were selected by a panel of judges including photographer Mujibur Rahman Khan, cinematographer Asif Abedin, and actor and director Shahed Ali. Themes included faecal sludge management, inclusive business, and sexual and reproductive health rights. To create more opportunities, an opening for season two was declared on spot in the introductory documentary by Enliven on the journey of the Young Filmmakers.