The setting sun along with the lyrical mystic of the national anthem of Bangladesh, sung by little birds, holding hands of their heroes including the likes of Mustafa Monwar, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Morshedul Islam.
This is how Children's Film Festival is inaugurated every year. Celebrated children's film “Amar Bondhu Rashed” director Morshedul Islam went to the International Children Film Festival, India with his film “Durotto” back in 2005 and acknowledged that the film festival was being run by children and literally children who still need to have their front tooth to grow back. He shared the idea of the festival with his wife, Munira Morshed, the current general secretary of Children Film Society, Bangladesh. Then the idea gradually got to meet its execution when it was shared with the eminent artist Mustafa Monwar, head of the festival advisory committee and the ever genius Muhammad Zafar Iqbal who is the current president of the organisation.
The then tiny society of 15 executive members internally sourced now houses over 100 young film enthusiasts. Since 2008, CFS has been on the run for creating a better audience, with the slogan, 'Future In Frames' through the lens of youngsters. Every year, with the help of the government and a few associated organizations, CFS somehow manages to pull off a gigantic festival which occupies the Shahbag Public Library premises.
When students are supposed to feel overwhelmed by their textbook texts, they hop on a bus, chatter till the volunteers of CFS get them to the festival venue and enjoy watching films that came from all around the world. By the time they are done watching the films, the gloom of textbooks on their faces is washed away.
Apart from the good films available to everyone for free, the main attraction of the festival is the competitive section of child filmmakers. This year, among the 68 films shot by 18 maestros and only 21 of them got through the primary selection round. Then, assuredly, the films will be judged by a jury board consisting of 5 members who happen to be children as well. One of them managed to came all the way from India which speaks how films create a good impact on children nowadays.
CFS also promotes appreciating good films. Hence, a separate category of a competitive section for the filmmakers aged from 19 to 25 has been created. The eminent director of 2017 hit, “Aynabaji,” Amitabh Reza Chowdhury will be concluding this category with a fair judgement. According to Amitabh, he already is elated to see young directors proffering so much effort into the stories and executing them with finesse.
On the latter part of the categories, the 148 films received from 58 distinctive countries will be judged by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Arun Gupta (Principal of the Faculty and Discipline Lead of Film and Video Communication in National Institute of Design, India) and Mejbaur Rahman Sumon.
CFS is not only about a seven-day festival. Throughout the year, workshops are also conducted by prominent film critics and directors targeting young film enthusiasts. Arun Gupta directed another class on film appreciation which is the 101 of filmmaking. Not to mention, the baton of the director is currently in the hands of another youngster, Abir Ferdous Mukhar who entered the festival premises on his jammies in the 2nd CFF and now directing the festival.
From Morshedul Islam to his son Rayeed Morshed and off to Abir Ferdous, film boosters given the responsibility of machining their own festival. Abir is waiting to pass on the baton to a new leader from the little league of superhumans.
Consequently, the best seven days of the year for film neophytes came to an end on February 2. The best reels were awarded 5 prizes at the prize giving ceremony.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
