DIFF wraps up with awards to celebrate cinema

Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) finally drew the curtains on its nine-day event on 19 January.

The chief guest of the closing ceremony, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs shared his aspirations for the development of Bangladesh's film sector and DIFF. He promised the establishment of a permanent venue, an allocated budget, and year-round activities to support the initiative. He also expressed hope for the continuation of such efforts in the future.

The chief guest at the closing ceremony, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, expressed his vision for advancing Bangladesh's film industry and the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF). He pledged to establish a permanent venue, an allocated budget, and implement year-round activities to support these initiatives. He also voiced optimism about sustaining such efforts in the future.

Throughout the festival, 203 films from 75 countries across 10 different categories were showcased in five venues in Dhaka, with 44 foreign delegates participating in person.

Furthermore, in celebration of the 50-year ties between China and Bangladesh, the category titled, 'Wide Angle' was dedicated to Chinese films. 

The names of the award-winning films were announced during the event:

Children's Film Section:

Badal Rahman Award: 'Kytalyktaakh Kyrdalym' (Where the White Cranes Dance), directed by Michael Lukachevsky (Russia).

Special Audience Award: 'Guardia de Honor' (The Guardian of Honor), directed by Joselito Altarejos (Philippines).

Best Audience Award: 'Padatik', directed by Srijit Mukherji (India).

Women Filmmakers Section:

Special Mention Award: 'Takoi Imenno Den' (Not Just Any Day), directed by Klavdiya Korshunova (Moldova, Russia).

Best Short Film Award: 'Scarlet', directed by Maria Bobeva (Bulgaria).

Best Feature Film Award: 'Kumva, Ce Qui Vient Du Silence' (Kumva, Which Comes from Silence), directed by Sarah Mallegol (France).

Best Director Award: Agustina Sánchez Gavier for 'Nuestra Sombra' (Our Own Shadow) (Argentina-Germany co-production).

Spiritual Film Section:

Best Short Film Award: 'Monte Clerigo', directed by Luis Campos (Portugal).

Special Mention Award: 'Swaha' (In the Name of Fire), directed by Abhilash Sharma (India).

Best Feature Film Award: 'Prishelec' (The Alien), directed by Ivan Sosnin (Russia).

Bangladesh Panorama Talent Section:

Second Runner-up: 'Poitrik Bhita' (Hereditary Homestead), directed by Mobarak Hossain.

First Runner-up: 'Phulera Poshak Porena' (Defy), directed by Aasif U Hamid.

FIPRESCI Jury Award for Best Film: 'A Lazy Noon', directed by Monon Muntaka.

Bangladesh Panorama Section (Feature Films):

FIPRESCI Jury Award for Best Film: 'Priyo Maloti', directed by Shankh Das Gupta.

 Asian Film Competition Section:

Best Scriptwriter Award: Takato Nishi and Noriko Yuasa for 'Performing Kaoru's Funeral' (Japan).

Best Cinematography Award: Dilsat Canan for 'Demo Ke Pelê Gozan Benî Zer' (When The Walnut Leaves Turn Yellow), directed by Mehmet Ali Konar (Turkey).

Best Actress Award: Diman Zandi for 'Melody' (Iran-Tajikistan co-production), directed by Behrouz Sebt Rasoul.

Best Actor Award:Rayan Sarlak for 'Tabestan-E Haman Saal' (Summertime) (Iran), directed by Mahmoud Kalari.

Special Mention for Best Director: Mahmoud Kalari for 'Tabestan-E Haman Saal' (Summertime).

Best Director Award: Haofeng Xu and Junfeng Xu for 'Men Qian Bao Di' (100 Yards) (China).

Best Film Award: 'Yakshanba' (Sunday), directed by Shokir Kholikov (Uzbekistan).