The closing ceremony of the UNHCR x Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) mobile filmmaking workshop, Forced to Flee, was held at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) Campus A in Dhanmondi. This event marked the culmination of a transformative three-week workshop aimed at empowering young filmmakers to craft compelling narratives about displacement and the resilience of refugees.

The workshop, a collaborative initiative between UNHCR and DIMFF, saw over 90 team applications from various universities. Out of these, five teams with a total of 20 participants were selected to participate in this prestigious program. The selected teams represented American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), Daffodil International University, BRAC University, ULAB, and Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology.

During the closing ceremony, the teams showcased their films, each reflecting the unique stories and perspectives developed throughout the workshop. The showcased films included:

A Decision – BRAC University, The Stateless Girl – Daffodil International University, Eggshell – ULAB, In Sight – Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, The Sky – AIUB.

These films will be featured in the upcoming 11th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival 2025, highlighting the talent and dedication of these young filmmakers.

The event was graced by DIMFF Advisor Syeda Sadia Mehjabin and UNHCR Representatives Kevin Lindblom and Nicholas. In his address, Nicholas emphasized the significance of film and mobile technology in reshaping public perceptions about refugees, stating: “We recognize how important film and mobile technology is in shaping the way refugees are perceived. We know there are challenges; sometimes it’s also hate speech that targets the people we work with. It’s very difficult to change perceptions about these situations, and film and social media can be of great help.”

Participants from BRAC University shared their reflections, noting a shift in their perspectives on migrants by the end of the workshop. Daffodil International University’s team expressed their aim to evoke empathy for refugees through their film, highlighting the emotional struggles faced by displaced individuals.

The ceremony concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DIMFF and UNHCR, solidifying their partnership to continue fostering awareness and understanding through mobile filmmaking. Participants were also awarded certificates, recognizing their commitment and achievements during the workshop.

Cine Carnival 3.0, a three-day celebration of creativity and culture presented by Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF), concluded today at the ULAB Permanent Campus. The closing day marked a grand finale with exciting events and star-studded appearances, leaving attendees inspired and entertained.

The highlight of the final day was the presence of renowned actress Mehazabien Chowdhury and the team behind the highly anticipated film Priyo Maloti. The segment began with an exclusive trailer screening, followed by a heartfelt discussion. Mehazabien shared insights into her journey with Priyo Maloti, reflecting, “It has been a journey of almost two years. This project started as a story in April of last year. We have so many issues we don’t address in films, and after listening to this story, I felt like if I do it right, it’ll become a milestone for me.”

Director Shangkha Dasgupta elaborated on the inspiration behind the film, stating, “If issues make you uncomfortable, then we should talk about them. This film is inspired by true events—something similar happened in 2022. We had so many little stories I wanted to communicate to the audience through this project.”

The day also featured the team of Dui Shaw from Chorki, led by acclaimed filmmaker Nuhash Humayun. The audience was treated to the premiere of the first episode of the series at Cinemascope Cinema Ghor. Nuhash expressed his admiration for the event, saying, “It’s an amazing arrangement. Events like this are crucial for bringing creators and audiences together in a meaningful way.”

Throughout the carnival, Cine Carnival 3.0 offered an engaging blend of cultural activities, traditional stalls, and creative exhibits. Attendees explored vibrant displays of crafts and traditional items, alongside thought-provoking cinematic discussions and screenings.

The Cinemascope Cinema Ghor sessions, including exclusive features like Priyo Maloti and Dui Shaw, provided a platform for meaningful conversations and creative insights, showcasing the transformative power of storytelling in cinema.

Cine Carnival 3.0 successfully bridged tradition and modernity, bringing together artists, creators, and enthusiasts under one roof. The event concluded with a promise to continue fostering creativity and dialogue, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended.

The much-anticipated Cine Carnival 3.0, organized by the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF), opened its doors on December 17th at the ULAB Permanent Campus. This vibrant three-day celebration of film, creativity, and fun started with an electrifying atmosphere, drawing film enthusiasts, students, and families alike.

Vendors were quick to praise the event’s audience engagement. Star Kebab, one of the food vendors, expressed their delight, saying, “We’re already stockout on the first day. The crowd has been amazing, and we’re excited for the next two days, which promise even bigger turnouts.”

Fravish, a fragrance vendor, shared a similar sentiment: “Our stall’s location is perfect, and the volunteers have been very helpful. We had to promise preorders for our 30ml perfumes because we sold out so quickly.”

At Nagordola, a popular attraction at the carnival, volunteers remarked, “No scarcity of audience—people are loving it.”

The Garage Sale stall also caught significant attention for its unique concept. A representative said, “Students have been very open to the idea of sustainable living. The garage sale is a great initiative since we all have fast fashion piling up at our homes, and it’s a fresh inclusion that highlights and promotes environmentally friendly shopping.”

Day One Highlights, The carnival officially began at 11 AM, welcoming attendees with a range of engaging activities such as Nagordola, Arcade Games, and Tota Bole (Parrot Fortune-Telling). Families and friends explored the 40+ stalls offering diverse products, games, and refreshments.

One of the main attractions of the event is the Cinemascope Cinemaghor, where films by talented filmmakers from around the world are being screened, offering an immersive cinematic experience. Cinemaghor successfully conducted their Day 1 operations.

The event organizers shared their excitement about the turnout. One organizer stated: “This year’s Cine Carnival was much awaited after the success of last year. We have so many exciting things prepared, and I’m truly happy to see so many people enjoying and looking forward to this event.”

Looking Ahead, With such a promising start, Cine Carnival 3.0 is expected to see even larger crowds over the next two days. Exciting competitions such as Cosplay Competition, Open Mic, and Roast and Toast are set to bring more energy in the coming days.

Don’t miss out on the remaining days of this cinematic celebration. For more updates, visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DIMFF.ULAB

The opening ceremony of the much-anticipated 2nd Edition of UNHCR x DIMFF Mobile Filmmaking Workshop: Forced to Flee took place on 06 December 2024, at the ULAB Permanent Campus. The event marked the beginning of an inspiring journey for five selected teams who will create impactful films centered on the workshop’s theme, “Forced to Flee.”

The workshop, organized collaboratively by UNHCR and the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF), aims to empower young filmmakers to tell compelling stories about displacement and the resilience of refugees. Out of over 90 team applications, only five teams with 20 participants were selected to take part in this prestigious workshop:

Selected Teams Institutes:  American International University-Bangladesh, Daffodil International University, BRAC University, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), and Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology.

UNHCR Representatives Kevin Lindblom, Shahirah Majumdar, Mosharaf Hossain, and Mr. Shafi Saleh, alongside DIMFF Advisor Syeda Mehjabin, graced the opening ceremony. Mr. Kevin Lindblom delivered an insightful speech on the workshop’s theme, emphasizing the power of storytelling to shed light on the struggles and resilience of displaced individuals. Additionally, Mr. Shafi Saleh introduced the participants to the mission and operations of UNHCR globally.

The workshop is being led by Instructor Mohammed Farhad Hossain Fahad, who will guide the teams through four engaging workshop sessions on December 6th, 7th, 13th, and 14th, 2024. The teams will develop short films inspired by the theme “Forced to Flee,” capturing the human stories of displacement and resilience.

At the end of the workshop, the selected films will have the opportunity for direct entry into the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) 2025. The winning film will be announced during the festival, providing participants with a global platform to showcase their work.

The closing ceremony of the workshop is scheduled for December 21, 2024, where participants will share their experiences and celebrate the completion of their creative projects.

For more information, please visit https://dimff.net/ , https://www.facebook.com/DIMFF.ULAB

Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) proudly presents “Cine’ta Roundtable”, Bangladesh’s first-ever roundtable discussion featuring the nation’s most influential filmmakers.

Set to release in November, the roundtable brings together the creative minds and cinematic endeavours of some of the country’s most acclaimed directors, shedding light on their beliefs on the craft of filmmaking, the increasing role of technology, and the reality of truth-telling in the film industry.

Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, a ULAB-led outreach program, hosted the roundtable show. The directors included Giasuddin Selim, Matin Rahman, Raihan Rafi, Taneem Rahman Angshu, Masud Hasan Ujjal, Shabnam Ferdousi, and Anam Biswas, who are known for works that have touched audiences deeply and broken new ground in Bangladeshi cinema.

Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival started Summer 2024 semester

Orientation Program and General Meeting of Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival was held on 5th July 2024 at Permanent Campus of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh.  The summer semester started with the addition of new volunteers through the recruitment of new volunteers.  This time 202 people applied to join as volunteers out of them 71 people were selected.  Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival Advisor Syeda Sadia Mehjabeen Co-Advisor Pantha Rahman and Instructor Farhad Hossain Farid were present in the event.  Executive members of DIMFF were also present. During the event, DIMFF Advisor Syeda Sadia Mehjabeen and Co-Advisor Pantha Rahman welcomed the new volunteers, and all executive members introduced their teams. In the meeting, plans for the upcoming 2025 festival were discussed.  Film submissions for the 2025 festival will end on September 27 this year and the 2025 festival could be held in the first week of February 2025.

The 11th edition of the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) commenced with great fanfare on 3 April, coinciding with National Film Day. 

The virtual inauguration began with a warm welcome from Festival Advisor Syeda Sadia Mehjabin; igniting anticipation for the cinematic journey ahead, reads a press release.

The unveiling of the festival poster and a gripping promotional video took place shortly after marking the official launch. An insightful tutorial video guided participants on film submission and rating procedures, ensuring a seamless experience for filmmakers eager to showcase their creations.

Submissions for DIMFF-25 will start on 3 April and be closed on 24 September. This festival will have four award categories.

Renowned actor, director, and writer Gazi Rakayet graced the event as a special guest, sharing his enriching experiences with DIMFF in the past.

“I became rich just watching the films,” remarked Rakayet, expressing his enthusiasm for the diverse talents expected to participate in this year’s festival.

He extended hearty congratulations to all involved, emphasizing the significance of student participation in shaping the future of cinema.

The excitement peaked with the announcement of the winner of the Mystery Box, Rakibul Hossen Shiam, adding an element of intrigue and anticipation to the festivities ahead of the year.

The virtual event ended with Co-Advisor Rubayat Andalib Pantho and his remarks, “We grew up watching you, Gazi Rakayet Sir. Thank you for being a part of our childhood and for gracing us with your support in our journey. Thanks to the former festival directors, and to Hosain Hoque, the up-and-coming one, to the volunteers, who have worked to make this easy for the rest of us. Thanks to all of you.”

“Time to Live” directed by Iranian Filmmaker Hawar Rahimi won the top award “DIMFF Best Film” at the 10th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival concluded on Sunday at Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City Complex in the capital.

“Prayer Lima” won ULAB Best Vertical Film – directed by Young Man Kang from Peru. Bangladeshi film “Rights of Puppets” by Ali Reza Piyal won the CinemaScope Best Film Award while another Bangladeshi film “Pollution Mare” by Rawda Tasweeb won the ULAB Young Filmmaker Award, reads a press release.

This year, the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) expanded its horizons by introducing a thematic category supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), centered around the poignant theme “Forced to Flee” for the first time.

And in this category, “The Unbreakable Wall,” directed by Nowrin Islam Rio won the “UNHCR Best Film”.

A total of 176 films were submitted from 35 countries worldwide at the 10th edition of this flagship festival from the Department of Media Studies and Journalism (MSJ) of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).

The closing ceremony was joined by acclaimed Scriptwriter and Film Producer Abdul Aziz, the Chairman of Jaaz Multimedia as the chief guest. ULAB Vice Chancellor Imran Rahman was present there as a special guest.

“Technology is now like a pen and paper. Filmmakers should take advantage of it and use mobile phones professionally,” Aziz said at the event.

Following that, Professor Imran Rahman, alongside chief guest Abdul Aziz and ULAB Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Jude William Genilo, handed over the crests, prize money, and certificates to the winners.

This year’s Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival ended with a vote of thanks from DIMFF’s Advisor Syeda Sadia Mehjabin.

Chorusing the slogan “New Generation, New tools, New Communication,” the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival started its journey back in 2015.

The press conference of the 10th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival 2024 (DIMFF2024) was held on Thursday (29 February) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh’s permanent campus. 

The 10th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF2024), powered by Star Cineplex, is set to take place from 2 March and 3 March, bringing together filmmakers from 35 countries to showcase their talents and creativity. With a total of 176 films submitted, a total of 20 have been selected for exhibition, in four categories: Open Doors, Short film, Vertical film, One Minute. The festival will be held at the Permanent Campus of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) and Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City Complex. This year DIMFF will be celebrating its one decade of mobile filmmaking.

The 6 selected films for OPEN DOOR category are – “What Really Happened Was” by Jon-Claire Lee from Australia, “Every Three Days” by Mark Petrasso from Italy, “A Long Afternoon” by Sohibanoo Zolghadr from Islamic Republic of Iran, “Before The Sand Returns To The Sea” by Marcelo Lagreze from Argentina, “Time to Live” by Hawar Rahimi from Iran, “The Sea” by Sahra Ramezanian from Islamic Republic of Iran.

The 3 selected VERTICAL FILM Categories are “3EMW” by Carlos Vazquez from Mexico “Cozy Light Bulbs” by Kostiantyn Mishchenko from the United States, “Prayer Lima” Peru by Young Man Kang.

From SHORT FILM Category, four films are selected, they are “Acquaintance” by Vitalii Ermakov from Russian Federation, “Rights of Puppets” by Ali Reza Piyal from Bangladesh, “Machine City” by Noor E Alam Taimur from Bangladesh, “Sapling” by Dhwani Shah from United States.

From ONE MINUTE category, there are 3 films:  “Pollution Mare” by Rawda Tasweeb from Bangladesh, “The Proud Tree” by Ittiba Hussain from Bangladesh, “Brush & Floss” by Yusra Chowdhury  from Bangladesh.

From UNHCR Category 3 selected films are, “Slang: Rohingya Narrative” by Jubayer Ahmed from Bangladesh, “Unsent Letters” by Rafsan Jany Rahay and “The Unbreakable Wall” by Nowrin Islam Rio from Bangladesh.

The theme of 10th DIMFF’24 is “Nagordola”. The festival sponsor is UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.  And the festival will be documented by Filmism. We have “Erfan Teaders” as our Award Partner, “Zen Pharma” is our Wellness Partner.  JCI BANGLADESH as Youth and Networking Partner. We are glad to have NTV online as the online media partner. The print media partner of this year’s Business Standard, Janakantha, Desh Rupantor and The Daily Star. The Radio Partner Dhaka FM 90.4, our TV partner is SomoyNews.tv. Last but not the least, Star Cineplex is the venue partner of DIMFF.

The 10th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF’24) is going to conduct a pre-festival event, ‘Talk’:  Film, and Breaking the 4th Wall on Friday, 1st March, 2024. DIMFF will screen the film online  “Nowhere,” directed by young, talented filmmaker Zirao Yao. The screening will be followed by a discussion session. This discussion and screening will be hosted on the online Zoom platform.

This year’s tremendous achievement was a five-week-long mobile workshop organised jointly by the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival and The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) titled “Forced to Flee”, with a MoU signing with ULAB. Moreover, DIMFF collaborated with TikTok for the campaign “#CreateOnTikTok”. The “#CreateOnTikTok ” campaign event with DIMFF not only celebrated creativity but also provided valuable insights for the growing community of TikTok to enthusiasts and content creators.

The jury board of DIMFF’s 10th edition consists of two groups. ‘Short Film’ and ‘One Minute’ categories have  acclaimed director Masud Hasan Ujjal as Jury Chair and National Film Award winner music director Maqsud Jamil Mintoo and he was accompanied by noted Iranian actor and writer Arshia Zeinali as Jury Members. On the other hand, renowned British writer, producer, and founder of ‘Purple Field Production’ Elspeth Waldie and filmmaker Pradip Ghosh are the jury members and renowned actor and director Gazi Rakayet as Jury Chair for ‘Open Door’ and ‘Vertical’ categorized films.

The Festival Director Jubayada Jahan Shajlin, Festival Supervisor Samiul Hasan Hinel, PR Manager Fatema Tuz Zannat were present at the press conference to give more insights into the festival.

Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival is a platform dedicated to promoting mobile filmmaking and celebrating creativity in the digital age. The festival catalyzes emerging filmmakers to showcase their talent and connect with industry professionals. The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival – DIMFF 2024, is gearing up for its tenth year, with the tagline “New generation, New tools, New communication” with a team of devoted team members working tirelessly.

TikTok, in collaboration with the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF), hosted by the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), celebrated the achievements of the top 10 winners of the #CreateOnTikTok competition in a ceremony at Cineplex, SKS Tower, Mohakhali, on January 29, 2024. The occasion highlighted the creativity of individuals who used TikTok for storytelling through short films.

The #CreateOnTikTok competition, a part of TikTok’s latest initiative to empower content creators to craft short films using their mobile devices, culminated with the screening of the winners’ films. The event showcased various storytelling techniques in vertical video format, offering a glimpse into the evolving digital content creation landscape.

The selected winners are Abrar Zahin, Rayed Zakwan, Ahnaf Ali, Ashrafuddin Rahat, Sadiqul Islam, Sheikh Taseen, Isfar Mostakim, Takdir Talha, Rony Sharafat, and Mohammad Rafsan. They received certificates from TikTok, recognizing their contribution to digital content creation. The winners expressed their gratitude and excitement over this unique opportunity. "Thankful to TikTok and ULAB for bringing a change in short-form content creation through #CreateOnTikTok competition and recognizing creators for their creative stories that are portrayed in vertical format.

I’m delighted to be a part of it.," said Ahnaf Ali, reflecting the sentiment of many participants. By facilitating the submission of films through DIMFF’s social media pages and a dedicated TikTok micro-site, the campaign has opened new doors for filmmakers, enabling them to present their stories to a wider audience. The jury for the campaign, comprising Director Zahid Gogon, Film Critic Sadia Khalid Reeti, and Director Nazmul Hasan Shukorno, underscored the campaign’s commitment to excellence and innovation in digital storytelling.

A five-week-long mobile filmmaking workshop organized jointly by the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) came to an end on Friday.

The workshop was held at the permanent campus of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).

Inaugurated with the welcome speech by ULAB Pro-Vice-Chancellor Jude Willian Genilo, the event observed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) underscoring the commitment to fostering filmmaking as a means of amplifying refugee narratives by the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Sumbul Rizvi, the country representative, UNHCR, Bangladesh.

 Prof Jude William Genilo shared insights into the importance of storytelling and commended the young students for their passion and commitment to filmmaking, emphasizing the profound impact such narratives can have on raising awareness and fostering empathy.He also shared that the MoU signing and the partnership with UNHCR aims to empower storytellers to amplify the voices of those ‘Forced to Flee’ and create a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the refugees.

 The chief guest of the event, Sumbul Rizvi, the country representative of UNHCR, graced the occasion with her valuable insights into the world of filmmaking and the role it plays in presenting the stories of refugees as well as the transformative impact of mobile films in capturing the nuances of forced displacement and human resilience.She handed over the certificates to the dedicated participants after that, who completed the workshop.

 Following this, the films were screened, based on the theme ‘Forced to Flee’ – written, produced, and directed by the student filmmakers. The workshop was attended by a total of 20 students from different universities. This workshop was coordinated by Md Rayhan Kabir Shuvro.

Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) Advisor Syeda Sadia Mahjabin and Instructor Humayun Farid, presented the vote of thanks at the end of the five-week-long workshop on ‘Forced to Flee’. After the main event, a cultural segment was held by ULAB students.

Established as a unique platform to showcase the creativity of young filmmakers, the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) started its journey in 2015 with the motto ‘New Generation, New Technology, and New Communication’. This event aims to encourage filmmaking through mobile phones.

The 10th edition of the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF’24) is scheduled to be held in February next year.

The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF), in collaboration with TikTok, organised a content creation campaign, titled #CreateOnTikTok, for content creators, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts to delve into the vibrant realm of TikTok and filmmaking.

The workshop, held last Friday (November 17) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), attracted participants from schools, colleges, and universities, as well as the Digital Content Creators (DCC) team. TikTok’s collaboration with DIMFF marked the beginning of the event, featuring two informative sessions that connected both in-person and virtual attendees.

The virtual segment commenced with Pooja Dutta discussing TikTok’s global impact, portraying it as a platform for learning and new experiences. Dutta expressed excitement about the collaboration with DIMFF. Saul Moross emphasised the cultural influences that engage global audiences, underscoring the power of hashtags in fostering community unity. Jansen provided insights into film production, emphasising the significance of inspiration and offering practical production tips. Sarah Fleihan explored TikTok content creation, acknowledging the platform’s monumental success and focusing on the importance of creativity, story structure, and community guidelines.

In the offline session, Digital Content Creators Isfar Mostakim and Noushad Hossain showcased the user-friendly features of Capcut, a video editing app, highlighting its quick render times, AI-powered editing capabilities, and convenient usability. Shotok Khan, the entertainment lead for South Asia at TikTok, shared valuable insights on leveraging TikTok as an income-generating platform, emphasising creating long-term video content and promoting a “TikTok University” course. Abdullah Al Mahmud, the representative of #CreateOnTikTok from TikTok, shared information on submitting films on the TikTok micro-site and concluded the event with gratitude, promising a grander affair in the campaign’s closing event.

Film submissions for the campaign are open until December 10, 2023. Creators can submit their films by visiting the DIMFF social media pages or the TikTok micro-site.

DIMFF also announced the distinguished jury board for the #CreateOnTikTok campaign, comprising Director Zahid Gogon, Film Critic Sadia Khalid Reeti, and Director Nazmul Hasan Shukorno. The jury will select three winners, each receiving advantages from the campaign.

TikTok has launched its latest initiative, #CreateOnTikTok, in partnership with the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) organized by the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). This one-of-a- kind competition is poised to highlight and empower the growing community of content creators who want to craft short films straight from their mobile devices.

The #CreateOnTikTok campaign, spanning from November 1st to December 29th, is structured to allow enthusiastic participants to showcase their talents in three distinct categories: Story, Script and Editing. To ensure the highest quality, videos are subject to a set of criteria, culminating in a rigorous selection process where the top 40 submissions will be evaluated by a panel of professional jurors elected by ULAB. Then we will have the exclusive voting option on the platform for TikTok users to vote for the best video. As a testament to their achievements, shortlisted videos will be showcased on the TikTok profiles of the DIMFF and Cineplex. Charting the course of the campaign, preparations are already underway with the setup of ULAB's official presence on TikTok, the crafting of a dedicated campaign microsite, and intricate plans for an in-app voting platform. The campaign will be officially inaugurated in- app on 1st November, and users will be informed and updated about the competition through in-app notifications to keep the community engaged. The subsequent months will see an intensive video review process, leading up to the grand announcement of winners at the close of December.

Recognizing the meteoric rise in the popularity of short films on its platform and the insatiable appetite of users for entertainment content, TikTok aims to inspire its vast creator community. The essence of this campaign is to champion those who produce unique vertical videos and to accentuate the capabilities of TikTok's robust in-house creative tools, namely CapCut and Effect House.

This unique collaboration with DIMFF ULAB represents a confluence of creativity and academic rigor. The partnership invites students majoring in Media Studies at ULAB to harness their talents, creating specialized vertical content exclusively for TikTok, with the sole tool being their mobile phones. Moreover, in a nod to the growing significance of video editing in today's digital age, a specialized workshop will be rolled out by the TikTok team.

This workshop aims to demystify the world of video editing, introducing participants to the nuances of the CapCut platform. " At TikTok, we believe in the transformative power of creativity and the stories that emerge when technology meets passion. The #CreateOnTikTok initiative, in partnership with DIMFF ULAB, is a celebration of this convergence. Together, we're charting a new course in storytelling, empowering creators to bring their unique visions to life right from their fingertips," says Pooja Dutta, Head of Content Operations, South Asia, TikTok. " Mobile filmmaking is not just a trend; it's a powerful testament to the democratization of storytelling. Our partnership with TikTok through the #CreateOnTikTok initiative signifies our commitment to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers. By bridging the gap between academia and the digital realm, we are excited to uncover the myriad stories waiting to be told by our vibrant community of creators," says Syeda Sadia Mehjabin, Advisor of DIMFF.

For more details about the #CreateOnTikTok initiative, including submission guidelines and key dates, please visit the official microsite. With this collaboration with DIMFF ULAB, TikTok aspires to set new benchmarks in mobile filmmaking, encouraging a fresh wave of creators to harness the power of their devices and redefine the landscape of digital storytelling.

A five-week-long mobile filmmaking workshop will take place from 6 October onwards, jointly organized by the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIMFF) and the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

This workshop is open to undergraduate students from any educational institution. During the workshop, students will receive hands-on training and create films on the theme “Forced to Flee”, a new category established with UNHCR’s support for the tenth edition of DIMFF, reads a press release.

The student films produced through the workshop will reflect both the experiences of refugees—people forced to flee their homelands due to violence, persecution, conflict, or human rights violations—as well as the experiences of the communities hosting them. As Bangladesh is currently hosting nearly one million Rohingya who fled violence in Myanmar, the workshop offers an opportunity to empathetically engage with the ongoing refugee crisis through the medium of mobile film.

The workshop sessions will occur every Friday and Saturday, from 6 October to 4 November at the permanent campus of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).

The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, which began its journey in 2015 with the motto “New Generation, New Tools, New Communication,” aims to promote filmmaking using mobile phones.

A total of 163 films were submitted from 25 countries to the festival

The Russian film “Man on the Chair”, directed by Gleb Leshchenko, has won the Best Film Award at the 9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF 2023).

DIMFF 2023 was held on February 4-5 on the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) campus and Star Cineplex, Shimanto Shambhar, said a press release issued on Tuesday.

“The land of my forefathers” came from Pakistan directed by Irfan Noor K, MSJ Best MoJo Story was awarded to “Story and unknown” directed by Asif Ul Islam from Bangladesh, and for ULAB Young Filmmaker Award, Shikkha ATM directed by Shahinur Akter was from Bangladesh and DIMFF Best Vertical Film was awarded to “Face to face” directed by Ebrahim Chowdhury from Bangladesh.

A total of 163 films were submitted from 25 countries worldwide.

The chief guest of the closing ceremony, renowned actor and Managing Director of Asiatic EXP, Iresh Zaker, said: “No matter what the device is, telling a story through a film is more appreciable.”

This year’s Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival ended with a vote of thanks from DIMFF’s Advisor Syeda Sadia Mehjabin.

The much-anticipated 9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF 2023) raised its curtain on Saturday.

“Black Maria”, a dark tent carrying the name for film screening, was a unique experience for DIMFF which was held at the ULAB permanent campus, reads a press release.

Prof Jude William Genilo, head of ULAB’s media studies and journalism department, inaugurated the first session.

“No matter what type of ethnicity you belong – whether you are black or white – film brings us all together,” he said.

Festival Director Md Sambitul Islam stated: “I am very grateful to my team who worked hard for the whole year together to make this event possible.”

Chief guest Gousul Alam Shaon, managing partner and country head at Grey Group Bangladesh, congratulated DIMFF for making such a platform and said: “Film industry is growing even with mobile phones. I am honoured to share the day with young film-enthusiastic people here.”

Later, Shimul Chandra Biswas, jury chair of the “Open Door” and “Vertical Film” categories, said: “I want the new generation to explore their stories with the mobile phones in their hands by making films.”

The film screening began after the speeches. With the film screening, an interactive question and answer session was also held in the second session.

Later, Syeda Sadia Mehjabin, teacher of media studies and journalism department of ULAB and advisor of DIMFF, gave certificates to the three best campus ambassadors and students who did the workshop.

The first day of DIMFF 2023 ended with a thanking speech by Festival Director Md Sambitul Islam.

The closing ceremony of the festival will be held at Star Cineplex’s Shimanto Shambhar branch at 7pm on Monday.

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) is going to organize the opening ceremony of the “9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival” on Sunday at its permanent campus in Mohammadpur.

The second day and closing ceremony of the festival will be held on Monday at Star Cineplex’s Shimanto Shambhar branch.

A press conference was held in this regard on Thursday.

DIMFF 2023 Festival Director Mohammad Sambitul Islam, Event Coordinator Ishmam Rahim Kareeb and Public Relations Manager Jannatin Tajrimin Reethi were present at the press conference.

Syeda Sadia Mehjabin, teacher of media studies and journalism department of ULAB and advisor of DIMFF was also present.

Out of 163 films from 25 countries, 26 films were selected for the screening in this festival.

In the 9th edition of the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, films have been submitted in five categories- Open Doors, Short Film, Vertical Film Category, Short Film Category, Mojo Story Category and One Minute Category.

In the Open Doors category, anyone from any region can submit films shot on a mobile phone. The best film will get the “DIMFF Best Film” award.

In the Short Film category, only university students of the Undergraduate or Graduate level can participate. The best film will get the “CinemaScope Best Film” award.

In the One Minute category, grade 1-12 students can participate. The best film in this category will get the “ULAB Young Film Maker” award.

Two new categories have been added to DIMFF this year. Best films in these two categories will get the “DIMFF Best Vertical Film” and “MSJ Best Mojo” awards.

There are two jury boards for selecting and judging this year’s films. Short Film, Mojo Story and One Minute categories have Subarna Senjuti Tushi as jury chair and Rezwan Shahriar Sumit and Ayaz Khan as jury members.

On the other hand, Shimul Chandra Biswas is the jury chair for the Open Door and Vertical Film categories and Beraat Gokkus and Tasmiah Afrin Mou are the jury members.

Every year DIMFF highlights a traditional element of Bangladesh. Accordingly, this year the theme of the festival is “Bioscope”.

Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) started its journey in 2015 with the motto “New Generation, New Tools, New Communication”.

The “Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival 2023” (DIMFF) is all set to greet the audience at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh’s (ULAB) permanent campus and Star Cineplex, Shimanto Shambhar, respectively on February 4 and 5. This will be the ninth presentation of the two-day-long event.

On February 4, the opening day will feature the managing partner and country head of Grey Advertising Bangladesh Ltd,Gausul Alam Shaon as chief guest.

The event will be exhibiting films in five categories this year, including “Open Doors Film”, “Short Film”, “One Minute Film”, “DIMFF Best Vertical Film”, and “MSJ Best Mojo”. Initially, 25 countries had submitted 163 films for the festival, out of which only 26 films were selected for screening.

The jury board for this year’s DIMFF consists of two groups. “Short Film”, “One Minute Film” and “MSJ Best Mojo” category films will be reviewed by noted filmmaker Senjuti Subarna Tushi, National Award-Winning filmmaker Rezwan Shahriar Sumit, and Pakistani filmmaker Ayaz Khan.

Meanwhile, renowned film director Shimul Chandra Biswas, French-Turkish director Berat Gokkus and filmmaker Tasmiyah Afrin Mou will be judging the “Open Door Film” and “Vertical Film” categories.

The second and last day of the event will take place in Star Cineplex, Shimanto Shambhar,where Iresh Zaker will be joining the festivities as chief guest.

A four-day mobile filmmaking workshop jointly organized by the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIMFF) and Science Film Festival comes to an end on December 31, 2022.

The workshop was held on December 23, 24, 30, and 31 at the Permanent Campus of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), and the Goethe Institute Bangladesh is a subsidiary institution of the workshop. Apart from film production materials, the free workshop also includes transportation and food for trainees and teacher representatives.

The workshop is attended by a total of 20 students from the JAAGO Foundation, Rayer Bazar School, and KK Foundation studying in classes VI to XII. After hands-on training, students produced films on the theme “Equal Rights in Science” at this girls-only event.

Four films produced by the students were premiered on the last day. Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) Advisor Mohammad Shazzad Hossain and Instructor Zahid Gogon were present at the premiere. On the last day of the 9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, certificates will be given out.

Syeda Sadia Mehjabin, DIMFF’s advisor, gave a vote of thanks at the end of the four-day workshop. After the main program, a cultural segment was held by the school students. The social affairs team of DIMFF organized the workshop.

The 9th edition of the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival 2023 (DIMFF 2023) is going to be held on March 3 and 4, 2023. DIMFF is a unique platform to showcase the creativity of young filmmakers.

Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival started its journey in 2015 with the motto “New Generation, New Technology, and New Communication.” This event is to encourage filmmaking through mobile phones.

For details visit: https://dimff.net/

The film submissions for the 9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, DIMFF2023 are officially closed. The entire team of DIMFF 2023 worked together as one to make this festival happen during this unsolicited pandemic.

This festival aims to uphold and showcase hundreds of mobile films submitted by many amazing filmmakers. The sole purpose of this festival is to promote mobile film making in a broader spectrum. To normalize making film with new tools and technology, such as; mobile phones.

The festival includes three different categories: Independent, Competition, and One-minute film category. Keeping some specifications in mind all three categories are open for all. Independent Category calls for both international and national submissions, where the best film will be receiving the “DIMFF Best Film   award. For the “Cinemascope Best Film   award, the university students worldwide have to compete under the Competition Category. In the One-minute Film Category students from grade 1 to 12 can submit exactly one-minute-long films including the title and credit lines. The winner of this category will be receiving the “ULAB Young Filmmaker   award. The longest film in the Competition Category is ten minutes long.

The submissions started on 3rd April, 2022 and ended on 28th October, 2022. Since then, we have received 159 films under different categories from 25 different countries, such as; India, Iran, The United States, China, Australia, Peru, Tunisia, Chile. The art of filmmaking transcended all the boundaries between us and brought us together. We appreciate all the love and support that we have got from all around the world.

To express her immense gratitude for the overwhelming success and the received support for the festival, the festival director of DIMFF 2023, Md. Sambitul Islam said, ”We started taking submissions from the 3rd of April and so far we have received 163 films from 25 countries.  I think, We first started as a club within the university in 2015 and now we have reached to an international level. We are overwhelmed with the support we have received. Hope your support will remain constant within the coming years too.

To break the stigma that one needs studio worthy equipment to make a good film, DIMFF (Dhaka International Film Festival) started its journey back in 2015. New generation, New tools, New communication – with this motto, our main goal is to inspire people to create films using mobile phones.

For more information, please visit our website: (https://dimff.net)

The 9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival- DIMFF2023 has made the remarkable feat of exceeding  100 film submissions.

In this year’s installment, participants can submit films in 5 different categories including Vertical Film and MoJo Storytelling. With the tradition of focusing on a particular cultural heritage element as its festival theme, DIMFF has chosen “Bioscope” as this year’s theme.

The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, 2023 – DIMFF2023, is all set for its ninth term, with many dedicated team members working passionately. The film submissions are open till September. The selected films will be screened during the festival’s opening and closing sessions. DIMFF is a platform for young filmmakers for their creative expression.

New generation, New tools, New communication – with this motto, the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) commenced its journey back in 2015, mainly to inspire people to create films using mobile phones.  

The 9th DIMFF 2023 film submission has started, so submit your film by 24th September 2022. The 9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) will be held on February 3 & 4, 2023.  

For further information, please visit: filmfreeway.com/DIMFF

To know more, please visit the website: www.dimff.net.

On the 23rd of this April, Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival DIMFF’23 arranged the masterclass of their ninth installment. The masterclass was conducted through the online platform zoom.

Every year, DIMFF organizes several masterclasses with the aim of introducing students from schools, colleges and universities interested in filmmaking to various branches of the vast world of film. In this, domestic and international filmmakers and experts participated in direct discussions with the students and presented their views on films and shared bits of their own filmmaking journey.

Film producer and director Mr. Abid Mallick conducted the masterclass titled ‘Nirmatar Bahurup: Directing Artists’. He discusses in detail about the art of communication for getting the perfect work from the artists in accordance with the character of the story.

He said, “the main job of a director is to fully utilize an artist’s potential. The more work he can put in, the better the results will be”. Besides, he also included the importance of paying proper attention to mental health.

He further added, “if the producer wants the actors to give their best then that environment has to be ensured. Never disturb their attention in any way. It should be kept in mind that they are human beings like us, not robots”. A question and answer session was organized shortly after where the participants interacted with the expert and asked various questions related to the film and the production.

Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival has been held every year since 2015 with the slogan “New generation, new technology, new communication”. The deadline for submission of films in five different categories for the 9th season is 24 September 2022.

An inter- university workshop for aspiring media professionals titled “MediaDo” “ was organized by the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival- DIMFF2023 at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) in the capital, last Saturday. This workshop aimed to teach participants about media relations through the experiences of skilled industry specialists.

The session was conducted by Mohammad Arif, Assistant Director of Planning at Asiatic Mindshare Ltd.Ltd., and Md. Ehsun-Uz-Zaman, Assistant Media Director of Operation and Partnership  at Asiatic Mindshare Ltd. This workshop was designed to cater to would-be media professionals with a keen interest in public relations and mass media

Undergraduate students from all over Dhaka are attending the workshop. DIMFF’s Public Relations manager, Nuzhat Fairuz Nobonie, and External Affairs manager, Ha-mim Shafiq Hussain, arranged this workshop. 

The speakers emphasized the importance of planning and omnipresence of a media campaign for a brand. The workshop concluded with an interactive Q and A session between the guest speakers and participants.

The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, 2023 – DIMFF2023, is all set for its ninth term, with a bunch of dedicated team members working passionately. The film submissions are open till September. The selected films will be screened at the festival’s opening and closing sessions. DIMFF is a platform for young filmmakers for their creative expression.

New generation, New tools, New communication – with this motto, the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) commenced its journey back in 2015, mainly to inspire people to create films using mobile phones.  

The 9th DIMFF 2023 film submission has started, so submit your film by 24th September 2022. The 9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) will be held on March 3 & 4, 2023.

The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival- DIMFF2023 wrapped a four-day workshop on “DIY: Mobile Filmmaking” on Saturday at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) in the capital. The goal of this workshop was to introduce school children to the principles of visual content creation, as well as the prospects and opportunities that come with mobile filmmaking.

Ten Badshah Faisal Institute students from grades 6 to 10 attended the workshop. The session was organized by DIMFF’s social affairs manager, Rayhan Kabir Shuvro, Creative Manager Mahmudul Hasan Sajib, Content manager Hossain Ahmed Hasibul Hoque, Submission manager Sibasish Bagchi Anik, and Public Relations manager Nuzhat Fairuz Nobonie. It was led by DIMFF’s instructor, Zahid Gogon.

The participating students were divided into groups, and they made two one-minute films solely using mobile phones. “Moshari” was directed by filmmaker, Rashid Mohammad Naziat and “Switch” was directed by filmmaker, Ahmed Zakaria Tamim. 

Their films were also entered in DIMFF 2023’s competition. Following the training, the young students are now prepared to compete in international competitions.

The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, 2023 – DIMFF2023, is all set for its ninth term, with a bunch of dedicated team members working passionately. The film submissions are open till September. The selected films will be screened on the festival’s opening and closing sessions. DIMFF is a platform for young filmmakers for their creative expression.

New generation, New tools, New communication – with this motto, the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) commenced its journey back in 2015, mainly to inspire people to create films using mobile phones.  

The 9th DIMFF 2023 film submission has started, so submit your film by 24th September 2022. The 9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) will be held on March 3 & 4, 2023.  

This Saturday, Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival – DIMFF2023 organized  a film screening and discussion session titled “Behind the lens” at the auditorium of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). With the aim to inspire young filmmakers in the country, the session was a success where two talented filmmakers shared their views, tips and tricks with the young mobile filmmakers.

The event started with the welcome speech by the gracious host Alavi Abrar. Mohammad Farhad Hossain Fahad, director of ‘Interval’ and Anupam Hore, director of ‘The Conundrum’ were present in the event. 

A screening session was arranged by DIMFF2023 where both ‘Interval’ and ‘The Conundrum’ were screened. After the screening, a special discussion session with the filmmakers happened where both of the filmmakers shared their journey of making the films. They also shared several aspects of filmmaking techniques starting from writing to post production with the audience.

“It is very important that storytellers take the story on a personal level and tell the story they themselves relate to for making a good film” said Anupam Hore. On the other hand, Mohammad Farhad Hossain Fahad advised young filmmakers to give emphasis on exploring new journeys through life and be their crazy selves in order to be a filmmaker.

Behind the lens was broadcasted live through Social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. Young filmmakers from all over Dhaka attended this event while filmmakers around the world from different countries attended through social media. A brief question and answer session was arranged where the aspiring filmmakers from the audience got a chance to interact with both the directors directly.

Ticket lottery announcement was done by the host in the event where two lucky winners got ticket vouchers from STAR Cineplex. After that, honorable advisors of DIMFF2023, Mohammad Shazzad Hossain, Abdul Kabil Khan, and Syeda Sadia Mehjabin gave the token of honor to both the directors and the event ended with a Vote of thanks by Syeda Sadia Mehjabin.

With the motto – ‘New generation, New tools, New communication’ and a bunch of dedicated team members working passionately, the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, 2023 – DIMFF2023, is all set for its ninth term. DIMFF is a platform for young filmmakers for their creative expression.

The film submissions are open till 24th of September,2022. The 9th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) will be held on March 3 & 4, 2023. 

Mr. Mahiuddin Sarkar, the editor of Dhaka Post signed the contract paper on their behalf and Mr. Sambitul Islam, the festival director of DIMFF signed the contract on behalf of DIMFF23.

Dhaka post’s business development manager, Mr. H M Golam Murtaza, Head of Entertainment Mr. Rabiul Islam Jibon and multimedia journalist Mr.Rabiul were present while the signing of the contract of this glorious collaborative bond.

Since 2015, Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival has been successfully arranging a mobile phone film festival every year with the motto,’New Generation, New Technology, New Communication’.

Recently World Universities with Real Impact (WURI) published their rankings where ‘Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival’ secured the 25th position in the Entrepreneurial Spirit category.

Last date of film submission in DIMFF’23 is 24th September, 2022. In this year’s event, alongside vertical film and MOJO stories, participants are offered 5 different categories in total to submit their films and be a part of Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival.

Film exhibition and discussion program ‘Behind the Lens’ was organized like every year with the slogan of new generation, new technology, new communication. Film exhibition and discussion program ‘Behind the Lens’ was held under the initiative of DIMF.

The event was held on the virtual platform Zoom on Saturday (April 16) at 3 pm. ‘Behind the Lens’ is a regular event of DIMFF where films made by domestic and international filmmakers are discussed and the story behind the production is discussed.

Sohail Shahriar and Iqbal Mahmud, makers of ‘Circle of Circles’ and Akhil Vijaya, maker of ‘The Day’ were the guests in the first episode of the show. Two films were made on mobile phones and screened at the eighth and seventh editions of DIMFF.

In the event, the makers presented the story of their mobile film making to the audience. Discusses their filmmaking journey and challenges through the use of mobile phones.

Iqbal Mahmud said, if a new person wants to make a film, starting work is the main obstacle. Once a work is started it will end one day or the other.

Akhil Vijaya in his speech said about DIMFF, Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival is one of the best festivals for mobile filmmakers. It is a great honor for me to speak about my film in front of you today. Then in the question and answer session, the participants asked the filmmakers various questions related to the film.

The last date for submission of films in five different categories for this year’s 9th edition is 24th September 2022. Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival has been held every year since 2015.

Masterclass of the ninth edition of Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival ‘DIMFF-2023’ was held yesterday (April 23). The masterclass was organized on the virtual platform Zoom on Saturday (April 23).

Every year, DIMFF organizes masterclasses to introduce students from schools, colleges and universities interested in film to various branches of the vast world of film. In this, domestic and international filmmakers and experts participated in direct discussions with the students and presented their views and experiences on films.

The Masterclass titled Bahruop of the Maker: Directing Artists was conducted by film producer and director Abid Mallick. Discusses in detail how to get the perfect work from the artists in accordance with the character of the story.

He said, the main job of a director is to fully exploit the artist’s potential. The more work he can put in, the better the results will be. Besides, he asked to pay proper attention to mental health.

He further said that if the producer wants the actor to give his best then that environment has to be ensured. Do not disturb his attention in any way. Also, it should be remembered that he is a human being like us, not a robot. A question and answer session was then organized where the participants asked various questions related to the film and the production.

It should be noted that Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival has been held every year since 2015 with the slogan of new generation, new technology, new communication. The deadline for submission of films in five different categories for the 9th season is 24 September 2022.

Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival has been held every year since 2015 with the slogan ‘New Generation, New Technology, New Communication’. Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) and Bangladesh Film Archive jointly celebrated the National Film Day at Bangladesh Film Archive’s auditorium.

Last Saturday (April 2) at 3 pm, the day was celebrated through a colorful arrangement in the auditorium of Bangladesh Film Archive.

Director General of Bangladesh Film Archive Md. Nizamul Kabir was present as the chief guest in the event alongside DIMFF advisors Muhammad Sajjad Hussain and Abdul Qabil Khan, filmmaker Mahadi Hasan, members of DIMFF and other advisors.

At the beginning of the program, Muhammad Sajjad Hossain discussed the importance of modern technology in film production and how mobile filmmaking during the pandemic had a major impact. He sheds light on the fact that it has created a new field of possibilities. He also highlighted the struggle and success story of 9 years long journey of DIMFF in his speech.

Director General of Bangladesh Film Archive Md. Nizamul Kabir thanked and praised DIMFF authorities and organizing members for successfully organizing this festival on mobile films in Bangladesh every year.

A discussion session on ‘Role of Art and Technology in Modern Filmmaking’ moderated by Abdul Kabeel Khan was organized with the guests. The official program of submission of films for the 9th season of Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival began during the celebration of this glorious day.

Submissions can be done on www.filmfreeway.com from Sunday (April 3) to September 24, 2022. Participants can submit films in a total of 5 different categories including Vertical Film and Mojo Story this year.

Note: National Film Day is celebrated in Bangladesh every year on April 3 to commemorate the contribution of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the film industry of Bangladesh. This year, keeping in mind the beginning of Ramzan, DIMFF celebrated the day a day earlier.

Shumsul Islam Shuvo

As a child, films always fascinated me. I always wondered how the director tells a visual story with a limited time. I used to think you could only make films with expensive equipment but when I heard about the Dhaka International Mobile Film festival and watched the films people submitted from around the world, my perception of filmmaking has completely changed. You can tell a story using one device you carry with you most of the time. Moreover, mobile cameras are getting more and more powerful with time. Therefore, it makes sense to use this device to tell- Your Story.

This led me to join the Dhaka International Mobile film festival (DIMFF) to learn more about mobile filmmaking and what goes behind that lens from action to cut. My journey with DIMFF started last year. As a PR manager, I have seen DIMFF very closely. DIMFF is a tireless work of many teams. DIMFF is not just a mobile film festival, it is an organization that runs under a defined organizational structure. Throughout the festival year, it selects campus ambassadors from various educational institutions to spare the mobile filmmaking knowledge. The campus ambassadors arrange their own workshop or movie screening session for their institution and DIMFF’s whole team helps them throughout the process. In addition to that, DIMFF has Online Mobile Filmmaking Workshops just to cater the students from different schools and colleges. Through these workshops, they learn about the magic of filmmaking using their smartphones.

CINE’TA is another initiative taken by DIMFF where film directors, different crew members and film industry experts share their knowledge. It is a golden opportunity for any film enthusiast to learn many things about filmmaking which will help them in their filmmaking journey. Then there are masterclasses also for in-depth learning about the craft of storytelling, managing production, sourcing producers or establishing networking. World-renowned filmmakers conduct these masterclasses. DIMFF organizes Behind the Lens sessions too where the filmmaker talks about his/her film career and their filmmaking process behind the camera.

DIMFF believes that we are committed to society as well. From that ideology, DIMFF collaborates with Initiative für Neue Bildung (IFNB) as a Partner for Change and ensures an online mobile filmmaking course to Barishal Nook’s ten participants. This is not all. DIMFF arranges CSDT filmmaking workshops in two terms with the Munda community in Koyra and Shyamnagar, Shatkhira. These workshops focus on climate change and its aftermath in the Munda community’s life where the participants tried to capture the climate change-related problems they are facing as a community. In Koyra, DIMFF’s advisor Mohammad Shazzad Hossain coordinated the workshop. Also in Shyamnagar, assistant professor Abdul Kader and senior lecturer Muhammad Aminuzzaman acted as the coordinators of the workshop. In both places, DIMFF’s advisor Dr. Abdul Kabil Khan and Executive advisor Syeda Sadia Mehjabin were the facilitators.

DIMFF is a unique place where people from all over the world can express themselves artistically. With the help of your mobile device, the creative passion in your heart can enable you to visually tell your story to the world. “New Generation, New Tools, New Communication with this moto DIMFF is giving the young filmmakers the opportunity to start their movie-making journey. Be a part of the community and bring the change.

The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival has held a six-day CDST Filmmaking Workshop with Munda Community in Shyamnagar, Satkhira which started on Sunday 23rd January 2022. This mobile filmmaking workshop solely focused on climate change and its aftermath in Munda’s life. Total 10 participants from the Munda Community joined the workshop.

Global warming is real and rapid climate change is the effect of it. Participants have tried their best to cover different problem areas and how those create a long-term effect in the Munda community. In those diverge topics they talk about the tiger widow, child marriage, culture and language, job crisis and alternative solutions and sufferings of displacements. Through their stories, they display the sufferings and sacrifices the Munda community bears, the threat of child marriage overshadows the happiness of the conjugal lives and the importance of keeping their heritage intact.

The intensive mobile filmmaking workshop, the first of its kind in Shyamnagar, provided the opportunity for participants from the Munda community to understand and appreciate the process of telling their stories with a smartphone. Besides that, through this workshop, they have gathered the basic knowledge of filmmaking, which will help them find their voice on a broader scale. At the closing event, each participant has showcased their films in front of the audience. And those films vividly display their everyday lives- struggles for survival fighting against nature.

The Closing Ceremony of the ‘CDST Filmmaking Workshop with Munda Community, Shyamnagar 2022 is held on Friday, 28th January 2022, at 3:30 pm. ULAB MSJ Department Head Dr Jude William Genilo sent a Thank You speech to the participants, and so did the project researcher Angelos Theocharis from Durham University. The program started with a brief introduction to the research project and was followed by screening participants projects. At the event UP Chairman of Burighoalini, Bhobotosh Kumar Mondol, founder of Initiative for Coastal Development, Asikuzzaman Asik, founder of PROGOTI Ashek-e- Elahi were grace the event.

The “Community Digital Storytelling and Delta Futures in India, Bangladesh and Vietnam project is organized by Dr. Angelos Theocharis and funded by the UKRI GCRF Living Deltas Hub and the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR) at Durham University. The present workshops were conducted in collaboration with the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF), the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), and PROGOTI (People’s Research on Grassroots Ownership & Traditional Initiative).

From DIMFF, advisor Dr Abdul Kabil Khan and executive advisor Syeda Sadia Mehjabin were the facilitators and Assistant professor Abdul Kader and Senior Lecturer Muhammad Aminuzzaman from ULAB were the coordinators of the workshop. From PROGOTI, Ashek-e- Elahi acted as the coordinator from the local side.

The 8th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF 2022) has organized a masterclass on 20th December 2021 at 4 PM for film enthusiasts and independent filmmakers. The masterclass was titled ‘Smartphone Filmmaking Theory and Practice . It was held on the online platform Zoom.

The masterclass was conducted by Senior Lecturer in Film and Television and Research at the Centre for Transformative Media Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology (Melbourne, Australia) Dr. Max Schleser. Dr Schleser is also the screening director of the International Mobile Screening & Smartphone Film Festival.

In this masterclass, Dr. Schleser talked about the diverse approach towards smartphone filmmaking and gave an overview of the international mobile films audience. He said, ‘It doesn’t matter if you are 16 or 60, smartphone filmmaking can help solve lots of problems in this world . According to him there are few things that are key to mobile filmmaking, ‘More personal and more authentic films are surfacing and that’s because of smartphone filmmaking, there is a greater access to storytelling, more community engagement strategies and smartphone filmmaking is the global phenomenon with festivals in Asia and Africa he added.

97 people attended the masterclass while 121 registered. Young and aspiring filmmakers actively participated in this session. This masterclass desires to offer that knowledge to upcoming filmmakers looking forward to starting their mobile filmmaking journey. This masterclass is a part of DIMFF’s ongoing Masterclass sessions.

With the motto- New Generation, New tools, New Communication, Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) started its journey back in 2015. The 8th edition of this festival will be held on 25 February, 2022.