Forum: Spotlight on Bangladesh

This year the Forum focuses on Bangladesh and its vibrant cinema. In spite of political unrest, poverty and natural disasters – and despite the lack of production infrastructures, film schools and public cinemas – an independent filmmaking tradition continues to stubbornly persist, blurring the boundaries between popular entertainment and auteur cinema.

In recent years, Bangladeshi films have tackled some of the country's thorniest subjects, such as poverty, the country's war-torn history, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, and the role of women in society.

What is the current state of affairs for filmmaking in Bangladesh? How are filmmakers reaching audiences in spite of the decline of viable movie theatres? What strategies do they use for getting around censorship? Is competition with the film industries of India and Pakistan a threat or a stimulus? Whose stories are being told, and how?

The FIFF Forum provides a rare opportunity to discuss these and other questions with distinguished guests from the Bangladeshi film and television sector.