Film Federation of India (FFI), the apex body of producers and distributors of the country, has announced that they will organize an awards ceremony in Dhaka, with the aim of boosting the entertainment industries of both India and Bangladesh.
FFI President Firdausal Hasan made the announcement during a press conference in India on Wednesday, reports Indian Express.
Hasan said: “The federation wants to extend its help in developing the film industry of Bangladesh, and to promote Indian films there. We want to create an environment where both countries can do business. The first Bharat-Bangla Film Awards, to be held in Dhaka on October 21, is a step in that direction.
“Indian films, including Bangla releases, are very popular in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, but do not have proper release networks,” he added.
A jury committee consisting of filmmaker Goutam Ghose, actor and West Bengal Minister of Information Technology & Electronics Bratya Basu, actor Tanushree Chakraborty, as well as a producer and a journalist from India will select the Indian Bangla films nominated for the awards, which will be divided into 12 categories.
Bangladeshi films will also be awarded at the ceremony, in 12 more categories. The Bangladeshi films will be judged and evaluated by a jury of filmmakers, journalists, and critics from Bangladesh.
There will also be awards for films in eight regional languages of India – Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and Hindi. The films will be screened by the Indian side as part of efforts to promote the country’s regional cinema.
At the press conference, internationally acclaimed Indian filmmaker Goutam Ghosh proposed the opening of a single-window system, so that films from both countries can reach out to a larger audience.
“I have felt the need to have an award ceremony to celebrate Bangla films from India and Bangladesh on a single stage,” he said.
Ghose directed critically acclaimed Indo-Bangla co-productions Moner Manush (2010) and Shankhachil (2016). Internationally renowned Bangladeshi film producer Habibur Rahman Khan was the producer of both projects.
Firdausal Hasan also said single screens are on the decline in both countries, and producers’ bodies are concerned about the situation and want to do something.
He said: “While the number of single screens has come down from 700 to not more than 280-290 in West Bengal, in Bangladesh the figure has gone down from 1200 to 300.
“We need regular events on a sustained basis in both the countries, to celebrate our cinema and make the industry of both countries viable,” he added.