An experiential cinema exhibition to celebrate the centenary of Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand is being set up in the Rose Garden Underpass in collaboration with National Film Archives (NFDC) and students of Chandigarh College of Architecture. For five days, films from across the world and the country will absorb Chandigarh’s film lovers, as Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF), the first international film festival, is all set to open here from March 27 to March 31. The festival will showcase 24 award-winning international features in the World Cinema section, 17 Indie gems in the India Unveiled, 27 shorts in Brief Encounters, a curated section of children’s films and timeless classics. Nina Lath, founder and CEO of Cinevesture, says, “The festival is envisaged as a platform for audiences and producers. Its various verticals have been designed keeping the same in mind.” Chandigarh first international film festivalThe opening film of the festival is Cannes Award-winning French film ‘The Taste of Things’ starring Juliette Binoche. For five days, films from across the world and the country will absorb Chandigarh’s film lovers, as Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF), the first international film festival, is all set to open here from March 27 to March 31. The festival will showcase 24 award-winning international features in the World Cinema section, 17 Indie gems in the India Unveiled, 27 shorts in Brief Encounters, a curated section of children’s films and timeless classics. Nina Lath, founder and CEO of Cinevesture, says, “The festival is envisaged as a platform for audiences and producers. Its various verticals have been designed keeping the same in mind.” VS Kundu, a retired civil servant and former head of the National Films Division of India, has come aboard as the director of the film festival and industry veteran Bina Paul is the artistic director of CIFF. According to V S Kundu, the festival is the first global-scale cinema event to ever happen in Chandigarh. An experiential cinema exhibition to celebrate the centenary of Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand is being set up in the Rose Garden Underpass in collaboration with National Film Archives (NFDC) and students of Chandigarh College of Architecture. A screening of Children’s films is open to all children from the ages of 10-17 years at 9 am each day from March 27-31 at Cinepolis Jagat. The opening film of the festival is Cannes Award-winning French film ‘The Taste of Things’ starring Juliette Binoche. The closing film is South Korea’s highest grossing film of 2024 to date — the Horror-Mystery-Thriller Exhuma (Pamyo) which premiered at 2024 Berlinale. Programming highlights include internationally acclaimed films like The Zone of Interest, Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster, 2023 Academy Award-winner, The Whale, Seven Winters in Tehran, Breaking Ice, Paradise, and the animation feature Sultana’s Dreams among others. Award-winning Indian features and docs such as Marathi film Sthal, Venice Film Festival film Stolen, Rima Das’ Assamese film Tora’s Husband, Deepa Mehta’s TIFF film, I am Sirat, auteur filmmaker Gurvinder Singh’s Punjabi feature Adh Chanani Raat, Harjit Singh’s documentary on the late Punjabi painter and writer Imroz-A Walk Down The Memory Lane, Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Malayalam film Malaikottai Vaaliban, Sreemoyee Singh’s documentary, And, Towards Happy Alleys, will be screened. Source: Indian Express

The Wide-angle Segment of the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival was inaugurated on January 22 at the Bangladesh National Museum.    The event gathered over 300 individuals, including H.E. Dr. Dipu Moni, Honorable Member of Parliament and Minister of Social Welfare of Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Yao Wen, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh, Mr. Yue Liwen, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy, representatives from the film festival organizers, global filmmakers and Bangladeshi film enthusiasts.   Preceding the commencement of the opening ceremony, Ambassador Yao Wen took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Chinese Movie Poster Exhibition alongside other distinguished guests.   A noteworthy presence of 17 Chinese films marked the Chinese participation in this Dhaka International Film Festival edition. Furthermore, six representatives from the Chinese film industry visited Bangladesh, engaging in valuable exchanges during the festival.  

The festival will start with the film "Fereshte" in the Asian Film Competition of DIFF. The ceremony will be kicked off by famous actress Sharmila Tagore.   Jaya Ahsan's movie "Fereshte," from Iran, will be screened at the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival starting on January 20 at the Bangladesh National Museum Auditorium. The film is directed by Morteza Atashzamzam, is a collaboration between Bangladesh and Iran. It was shot in Bangladesh and tells the touching stories of a rickshaw puller and the challenges faced by working-class people.   The festival will start with the film "Fereshte" screened at 5 pm in the Asian Film Competition of DIFF. The ceremony, beginning at 4 pm, will be kicked off by famous actress Sharmila Tagore. After the opening, there will be a cultural program. Another important film, "Mujib: The Making of a Nation," directed by Shyam Benegal, is set to be shown at 7 pm.   Ahmed Muztaba Zaman Shovon, the director of the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF), shared details about the event. He mentioned that this year's focus is on 'China,' and they have organized a 'Wide-Angle Film Poster Exhibition' showcasing Chinese movies.   Sharmila Tagore, a respected member of the jury in the Asian competition section, will be joined by judges like Russian producer Anna Shalashina, Chinese film expert and producer Dr. Shi Chuan, Bangladeshi director Samia Zaman, and Thai director and producer Tom Waller. Their role involves evaluating films in various categories within the Asian competition section, such as best movie, producer, actor, actress, screenwriter, and cinematographer.   The Dhaka Film Festival will also include masterclasses by notable filmmakers. Iranian director Majid Majidi, known for "Children of Heaven," will be conducting one. Additionally, there will be masterclasses led by distinguished musician Anjan Dutt and Chinese film expert Shi Chuan.   The festival aims to present around 250 films from 75 countries, featuring competitions in diverse categories like Asian Cinema, Retrospective, Tribute, Wide Angle, Bangladesh Panorama, Cinema of the World, Children Films, Women Filmmakers, Short and Independent Films, and Spiritual Films. Scheduled to take place from January 20 to 28, the Dhaka International Film Festival promises a rich and varied cinematic experience.

Jaya Ahsan's Iranian film, "Fereshte", is set to be screened at the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF), which is scheduled to commence on January 20 at the Bangladesh National Museum Auditorium.   Directed by Morteza Atashzamzam, this collaborative film, a joint venture between Bangladesh and Iran, was filmed in Bangladesh and explores the humane stories of a rickshaw puller and the struggles of working-class people. The opening ceremony of the festival will feature the screening of "Fereshte" during the Asian Film Competition segment at around 5 pm, following the kick-off at 4 pm. Renowned actress Sharmila Tagore will inaugurate the ceremony, which will be followed by a cultural programme. Another notable film, "Mujib: The Making of a Nation", directed by Shyam Benegal, is scheduled for screening at 7 pm. The Dhaka Film Festival will also feature masterclasses by noted filmmakers, including Iranian director Majid Majidi, renowned for "Children of Heaven". In addition, masterclasses will be led by distinguished musician Anjan Dutt and Chinese film expert Shi Chuan.

The Government has announced the ‘National Film Award-2022 on Tuesday (October 31).  Chanchal Chowdhury and Jaya Ahsan got the award as best actor and actress for playing the lead role in the film ‘Hawa’,  and  ‘Beauty Circus’. Rikita Nandini Shimu also got the award ar ‘Shimu’ for ‘Beauty Circus’.  27 artists and crews have been nominated for the National Film Award this year. Muhammad Quayum’s movie ‘Kura Pokkhir Shunne Ura’ and Raihan Rafi’s ‘Poran’ were elected as Best Films jointly. Rubaiyat Hossain won the Best Film Director for the movie ‘Shimu’. Actor Khosru (Valiant Freedom Fighter Kamrul Alam Khan Khosru) and actress Rozina (Rawshan Ara Ranu) are getting lifetime honors.

Dallywood's king Shakib Khan is set to lead the Pan-Indian film 'Dard' with popular Bollywood actress Sonal Chauhan. Dhallywood's renowned filmmaker-distributor Anonno Mamun is the director of the films, He is also the director of Shakib's successful film 'Nabab LLB'.  He is also known for bringing Bollywood blockbusters 'Pathan' and 'Jawan' in theatres in Bangladesh. The film will be made in four languages - Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam, and the shooting is scheduled to start from October 27.

Popular Television actress Mehazabien Chowdhury was not agreeing to work for the big screen.  Finally, she will be seen on the big screen for her fans. She is going to work in a movie called 'Zaya' very soon. The movie is being produced for an OTT platform. Known that, 'Jaya' will be made around the story of a young woman's life.  It will be directed by Shihab Shaheen, Mehzabeen is teaming up with Afran Nisho in her first film. The shooting of the movie will start soon.

Leading international models Ingrida Ilgin and Mirka Howard walked the red carpet at the 76th edition of the recently concluded Cannes Film Festival 2023 dressed in spectacular handmade Sanjukta Dutta’s ensemble. Ingrida Ilegin, who has built a 15-year career in international modelling and won many accolades including the title of "Top Model United Kingdom Winner" and "Miss Film Festival International", put on a handmade Mulberry silk green gown. It is noteworthy that this is the third year in a row that Ingrida has chosen the label of Assam-based designer Sanjukta Dutta. Meanwhile, top New York model Mirka Howard walked the red carpet in a black Mekhela Chador by Sanjukta Dutta. Sanjukta recently showcased her designs at the Paris Fashion Week earlier this year. The designer has been instrumental in empowering India’s rural weavers as well as bringing the age-old art of Assamese handloom to the world stage.

The 76th film festival on the French Cote d'Azur saw a record number of female directors in the competition. The Palme d'Or for best film went to "Anatomy of a Fall," directed by Justine Triet. The prestigious Cannes Film Festival's closing ceremony took place on Saturday, with a French thriller landing the event's top award.  Women win big as Justine Triet takes Palme d'Or This year's Cannes festival was marked by a record number of female directors, with seven of the 21 films in the competition made by women, including newcomers and long-established auteurs. Justine Triet, 44, claimed the main prize, with "Anatomy of a Fall" awarded the coveted Palme d'Or for best film.  Triet is the third female director to win the prestigious Palme d'Or. She prevailed over veteran directors like Hirokazu Kore-eda, Ken Loach and Wim Wenders, all of whom have won at least one Palme d'Or. The film stars German actress Sandra Hüller as a writer who tries to prove her innocence after she is accused of her husband's death. In her acceptance speech, Triet blasted the French government over the recent protests against president Emmanuel Macron. "The country suffered from historic protests over the reform of the pension system. These protests were denied... repressed in a shocking way," she said.  Best actor and actress awards In the best actress category, Turkey's Merve Dizdar got the nod for the film "About Dry Grasses," the latest from festival favorite Nuri Bilge Ceylan.  The best actor nod went to Japan's Koji Yakusho for "Perfect Days," a film by German director Wim Wenders about the story of a Tokyo toilet cleaner. The Grand Prix, the second-highest prize after the Palme d'Or, went to British director Jonathan Glazer's "Zone of Interest," about a family living next to Auschwitz. Meanwhile, the award for best director went to Vietnamese-born French filmmaker Tran Anh Hung for "The Pot-au-Feu", a foodie love story, set in a 19th century French gourmet château.

The Teachers' Lounge, a story of a teacher who gets caught between her own ideals and that of the school where she teaches, while trying to solve a case of theft, won the best film at the German Film Awards. The German film, "Das Lehrerzimmer" or The Teachers' Lounge, was named the best film at the German Film Awards in Berlin on Friday. The film, directed by Ilker Catak, tells the story of a teacher who gets caught between her ideals while attempting to solve a theft in the school she teaches, where one of her students is a suspect. Together with Johannes Duncker, Catak also won the award for the best screenplay for the film. The war movie, "All Quiet on the Western Front," which won four Academy Awards earlier this year, won the silver award for the best feature film of the year. "Holy Spider" won the bronze award. Leonie Benesch won best actress award for "The Teachers' Lounge," while Felix Kammerer won best actor for "All Quiet on the Western Front." The German Film Awards, also known as Lola after its prize statuette, is considered the most important German award for filmmakers.