Human Rights Short Film Festival 2018 ended successfully at capital’s Shishu Academy auditorium on Sunday. The two-day-long international film festival was jointly organized by the Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS) and United Nations marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
A total of 738 films from 82 countries were submitted at the festival. The festival screened 70 films in four sessions in two days, according to a recent press release by DUFS.
On the final day 22 films were screened in the first session held in the morning. In the afternoon, the closing session and a seminar titled “Promoting and Protecting human rights through films and other media- celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” were held.
German Ambassador Peter Fahrenholtz, United Nation Regional Coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo, Human Rights Forum representative Sanjeeb Drong, popular film-maker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, film-maker Aung Rakhine and Former President of DUFS Rashedul Hafiz spoke at the seminar.
A prize giving ceremony was held after the seminar. Indian film-maker Avishek Shoain’s film “Life Drops” came in first place in the Short Film category. Second place was jointly claimed by Bangladeshi film-maker Joseph Mehedi’s “Poster” and Fazley Rabbi’s “Flying Child.” Sri Lankan film-maker Bavananthan Nithiyananthan’s film “Vimbam: Reflection” came in third place.
Eight more films from Bangladesh, India and Afghanistan received special nominations in Human Rights Films category. Five other films were awarded for Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Animation categories.
The festival concluded in the evening with a special show for the prize winning films.
