A total of nine films have made it to the official selection under Bangladesh Panorama Section at the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival. Bangladesh Panorama Section aims to promote the works of Bangladeshi filmmakers. At this edition of DIFF, the following films will compete against each other and the winner will receive the prestigious FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) award.
Beauty Circus
Bangladesh| 2022
“Beauty Circus” highlights the struggles of women in circuses. The film is a colorful portrayal of the lives of the performers of a circus show. Director of “Beauty Circus,” Mahmud Didar is a Bangladeshi Filmmaker whose love for films and movies grew during his childhood. He has made many films over the years. Didar always wanted to make a statement with his films, and he intends to do the same with “Beauty Circus”. Cast of the film includes Jaya Ahsan, Yeanur Shah, and Ferdous Ahmed among others.
Damal
Bangladesh| 122mins. | 2022
During the war of liberation, the “Independent Bangla Football Team” was formed to create public opinion in favor of independence and to create a fund for the freedom fighters. “Damal” bases on the contemporary events. Raihan Rafi, director of “Damal,” is a Bangladeshi filmmaker, who made his directorial debut in the year 2018. Siam Ahmed performs in the film along with Sariful Razz, and Bidya Sinha Saha Mim.
Deshantor (The Exodus)
Bangladesh | 124 mins | 2022
This is a story about one's attachment to one's homeland in the backdrop of the Indian partition of 1947. The story revolves around a Bengali Hindu family that is torn between pressures to migrate from East Bengal to India and their resolve to stay back. “Deshantor”director Ashutosh Sujan is the Director and Head of Bay of Bengal Films. He had begun his career as an assistant with Mostofa Sorwar Faruki. In the subsequent years, Sujan made his mark as a talented, versatile, and prolific director. Ahmed Rubel and Moushumi star in the film.
Ja Hariye Jay
Bangladesh | 80 mins | 2022
The village is an unknown region scattered in the remote areas of Bengal. No one is supposed to keep the news. But that man named Rabindranath is flying far and wide on the wings of melody on the wings of his mind. So the postmaster was created in his pen, a timeless short story! But they came with the iron handcuffs, came to plow blue with blood! The brutality of indigo cultivation in that disgraced history was not a story of Tagore, but perhaps the subconscious context was composed of his timeless character, named Ratan in his subconscious mind. Syed Salahuddin Zaki who directed the film is at a time a film director, producer, and film writer. “Ja Hariye Jay's”cast includes Afzal Hossain and Gazi Noor among many others.
JK 1971
Bangladesh | 81 mins | 2022
Fakhrul Arefin Khan's “JK 1071”is a historical project based on 1971 event by Jean Kay, a French Activist, who hijacked a 707 Boeing PIA at Orly International Airport, Paris and demanded 20 Ton emergency child medicine for Bangladeshi Refugees, who were struggling to survive especially in West Bengal refugee camp, India. Fakhrul Arefeen Khan is a national award winning film maker in Bangladesh, who started his film career in 1997 as a film activist. “JK 1971”features Shuvro Sourav Das, Deria Gvrusenko and Nikolai Novominsky.
Mrittunjoyee (The Immortal)
Bangladesh | 106mins. | 2022
Due to the Liberation War, the people of Bangladesh including Himangshu's family literally forced to leave their motherland. Even after the independence of Bangladesh, Himangshu's family didn't return to the homeland. After 50 years, he comes to his motherland for the sake of a research on 'The reflection of Liberation War in Painting'. Then he recalls his glorious childhood. He realizes that Bangabandhu and Liberation War are inevitably connected. That's why Bangabandhu is essentially interlinked on songs, poems as well as paintings. Himangshu later realized that the victims of genocide on S.M Sultan's paintings, Bangabandhu, and 30 lacs martyrs of the country, they are not dead. They acquire Immortality; all are Immortals. Uzzwal Kumar is the director of “Mrittunjoyee” and he is a highly-motivated narrative filmmaker with 10 years of visual storytelling experience. Cast of the film includes Hamidur Rahman, Jahid Hossain Shovon, Mukul Rahman and Farzana Chobi.
Paap Punyo
Bangladesh | 125mins. | 2022
Paap Punyo (Vice and Virtue) simply means “the bad and the good”. However, the concepts of “vice” and “virtue” appear to be subjective. Defining them is not that straight forward. Khorshed, the president prize winner local chairman in the film, also does not manage to define the thin line between the vice and virtue in his life. As the story progresses, he confronts an undiscovered relationship with his housemaid's son Al-Amin that put him in the middle of the dilemma of what is Paap (Vice) and what is Punyo (Virtue). “Paap Punyo” is directed by Giasuddin Selim, a famous Bangladeshi film director, writer, actor, and producer, working predominantly in the Bengali entertainment industry. Siam Ahmed, Chanchal Chowdhury, and Farzana Chumki performs in the film among others.
Saatao (Memories of Gloomy Monsoons)
Bangladesh | 97 mins | 2022
After marrying Putul and bringing her home, Fazlu finds his wife amidst loneliness, therefore he brings in a third member- a cow. With this newfound companion, Putul starts to settle in her new place. However, Teesta River's dams caused the lower region to be affected by drought, which brings struggle in the lives of farmers like Fazlu. The dams gatekeepers restrict all the water until the overflow in monsoon. They open the gates in monsoon, causing floods, bringing misery to the livelihood of everyone inhabiting the lower region. Due to such hostile behaviour of the river, Fazlu's family is no longer content. Bangladeshi filmmaker Khandaker Sumon is the director of “Saatao”. The film stars Fazlul Haque and Aynun Putul among many others.
The Laxman Das Circus
Bangladesh| 50 mins |2022
The circus is a widely recognized form of popular art and entertainment. Shri Laxman Das founded 'The Royal Pakistan Circus' in 1947. He is known as the "Father of the Circus." He gave his life during the Great Liberation War of 1971. The group was renamed to “The Laxman Das Circus” after the Bangladesh Liberation War. This documentary highlights the harsh reality of such a circus performer's life. The circus performers, however, have found happiness and are ready to conquer the world by the end of the show. The documentary “The Laxman Das Circus” is directed by Zhumur Asma Jui, who appears to be an A-Grade Drama Artist in BTV.