Dhaka Doc Lab 2019, a documentary co-production project market for South Asian filmmakers, ended on Saturday after six grueling days of mentoring and pitching. Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen was the chief guest at the event. State Minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid was present as the special guest, in the event held at the Liberation War Museum.
The closing remarks were followed by an award giving ceremony. The IEFTA (International Emerging Film Talent Association Award) Award that sponsors young filmmakers to attend the Producers Workshop and Marche Du Film at Cannes Film Festival, was jointly won by NOC by Kazi Krishnakali Islam(Bangladesh) and Gross National Happiness by Arun Bhattarai (Bhutan).
EkattorTelevision Award for Best pitch Bangladesh with a cash prize of Tk50,000 went to Songs of Sunflower by Abid Sarkar Sohag (Bangladesh). Two special mention awards went to Two Daughter & the money of their father by Shopno Sumudra (Bangladesh), and Settled to displace by Ripon Kumar das (Bangladesh).
DocEdge Kolkata Award went to Waiting For Winter by Farid Ahmed (Bangladesh) and Mursida by Moupia Mukherjee (India). Dhaka Doclab Best Project (Bangladesh) award along with a prize money of Tk1 lac went to Songs of Sunflower by Abid Sarkar Sohag. Gross National Happiness by Arun Bhattaria (Bhutan) won Dhaka Doclab Best Project (South Asia), and a prize money of Tk1.5 lac.
Arun told the Dhaka Tribune Showtime: “My film follows a happiness agent (officers who collect data for Gross National Happiness) as he goes door to door. I want to show simple everyday things that define happiness.”
