As part of the ongoing 13th edition of Dhaka International Film Festival, a total of 37 film enthusiasts including seven oversees students are participating in the Dhaka Cine Workshop.
This is the fourth edition of the workshop that was introduced in 2008 as a parallel event to the biennale film festival designed to utilise the ambiance, resource and coming together of cine professionals as well as creative talents, old and new.
International Film Critics Association of Bangladesh – IFCAB in association with the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh organised the workshop which began on January 12 and will end today with the screening of around seven short films made by the participants during the workshop.
From script writing to shooting and editing—the workshop facilitated the participants with logistic and intellectual support.
The participants have made short feature and documentary films on different subjects like traditional Benarosi Saree, rickshaw and more.
The workshop has been an intensive week-long academic work with creative professionals from diverse fields of the film industry as speakers and moderators.
Internationally acclaimed Portuguese director Francisco Veres Machado is the course coordinator of this year’s workshop. Dhaka Tribune caught up with the filmmaker:
Did you find it tough to conduct the workshop?
This is the first time I got the opportunity to work with university faculties, students, film-makers, journalists and beginners at the same time and it’s really very tough to conduct a workshop with such a diverse group.
What are your observations on the Bangladeshi participants?
I found them very professional and in harmony with each other, very understanding.
What you are expecting from the participants?
The entire programme was planned with immaculate precision, so that a beginner, as well as a professional can learn and practice the elements necessary for international standard film making. My first concern was making them aware about the new media. It is crucial as they can always learn from new inventions and adopt them to compete with the international film market. Another practice was emphasised on, to pick up an idea and present it onscreen successfully.
Tell us about yourself and your work.
I began my career in the film industry as an actor and then moved on to producing, editing and directing. I taught at Universidade Moderna de Lisboa where I founded the first private film school in Portugal – IAT (Institute of Audiovisual Technology). I also teach in Goa University – India, Escola Superior de Tecnologias de Abrantes – Portugal, and London University – UK.
I love to travel and this is my first visit to Bangladesh. For the last ten years, I am residing in India. I love to go with the flow. Most of my works are documentaries and I also love making feature films. I am conducting international film making workshops all over the world.
What is the current film you are working on?
I am working on a documentary about the identity of Goa. It has been a passionately debating question. Goa was a Portuguese colony and now within a span of 60 short years, it became one of the richest states of India.
