The 5-day long Bangladesh Short and Documentary Film Festival organized by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has started simultaneously in 8 divisional cities from yesterday. This 5 day long festival will continue till May 31, 2025.
The inaugural ceremony of the festival was organized yesterday, May 27, 2025, Tuesday at 6 pm at the National Theatre Auditorium. The inaugural ceremony began with the performance of the national anthem. Renowned filmmaker Anam Biswas was present as the opening speaker. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Secretary and Acting Director General Mohammad Wares Hossain presided over the event. Fayez Zahir, Director of the Drama and Film Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, delivered the welcome address and Mohammad Jasim Uddin, Deputy Director of the Drama and Film Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, delivered the congratulatory address. Producer Arifur Rahman and screenwriter and critic Sadia Khalid Reeti delivered speeches on behalf of the selection committee.
In his speech, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Secretary and Acting Director General Mohammad Wares Hossain said about the festival, “It is also a challenge to bring everyone together and turn a celebration into a festival. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has always liked to take on this challenge with a sense of responsibility. We will continue to have this sense of responsibility. He invited everyone to watch the film with their families and said that everyone should patronize the film. Those who are in the audience are the biggest critics. The criticism of the audience will make the hard work of those who have made these films worthwhile.
He continued, “The 5-day long Fourth Bangladesh Short and Documentary Film Festival 2025 has started simultaneously in 8 divisional cities of Bangladesh. Our journey will grow further. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will continue to try to make this festival more enlightening and festive with the cooperation and opinions of those involved in film.”
The aim and objective of this festival is to promote and develop the film industry, screen and understand quality domestic short and documentary films, and to create the inherent significance of films and human and social values among all those involved in film through the festival.
On the occasion of organizing the festival, films were invited through advertisements in newspapers and on the verified Facebook page of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and a total of 300 films of various lengths were submitted from all over the country in both categories. Out of which 209 were fiction and 91 were documentaries. Later, based on initial screening by the selection committee, 89 films were selected for exhibition. Out of which 60 were fiction and 29 were documentaries.
From the films to be screened, the jury committee will finally determine the best film, best filmmaker and special jury for awards from both categories. In addition, 4 special awards will be determined overall from both categories. These are Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Design and Best Production Design. Awards The prize money for the best film is 1 lakh 50 thousand taka, the best director is 1 lakh taka and the special jury prize is 50 thousand taka.
The special prizes are 30 thousand taka each for the best cinematographer, best editing, best sound design and best production design. All the filmmakers of the films to be screened will receive a festival memento along with a certificate of exhibition. The films will be screened in 8 divisional cities as per the schedule.
In addition, a day-long master class will be organized on Friday, May 30, 2025, at the National Theatre Archive Room with a maximum of 30 people from among the filmmakers screened in the festival. The subject of the master class will be sound and cinematography. Nahid Masud and Rashed Zaman will be the instructors.
