Background:

Bangladesh Short Film Forum is an organization of creative independent film and video makers, who since the early 1980s led a trend of making low-cost short fictions and documentaries on relevant socio-political issues. These films were made outside commercial film production and distribution network, and were shown all over Bangladesh by mobile projection units. Most of these films were made with personally raised fund, while the screenings were arranged either in rented auditorium or under open sky. Bangladesh Short Film Forum was formed in August 1986 and till date it remains the only organization of country's young independent filmmakers. The International Short & Independent Film Festival is one of the many projects undertaken by the Forum in order to introduce people of the country to the rich world of shorter-length creative cinema being made every year around the globe. The other projects of Forum include extending technical and financial assistance to short filmmakers, organizing short-term training courses on both theoretical and technical aspects of filmmaking, arranging film shows and providing projection facilities on rent. The Forum actively participates in all policy-level dialogues, debates and discussions on cinema related issues at both government and non-government level, and is also involved in campaigning for better technical and financial facilities for young independent filmmakers. The filmmakers from Bangladesh Short Film Forum have also won number of prestigious international awards that has uplifted the cultural image of our country.

Various Initiatives:

International Short & Independent Film Festival

The International Short & Independent Film Festival Dhaka began in 1988 with the objective of opening the door to the world of short fiction, documentaries and experimental films for local audience. It was the first such festival of short films in South Asia, seconded only the Bombay festival of short films in India. The festival is a biennial, non-competitive event and funded entirely by non-government private sector sponsors. Since 1988, nine successful editions have been held so far, each showing in an average of 200 short fictions, documentaries, animations and experimental films from about 30 countries. The festivals have so far been attended by filmmakers and academicians from the United States, UK, Canada Egypt, Poland Lithuania, Bosnia, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Australia and India. The festival aims at creating a platform for solidarity and better understanding among the independent short and documentary filmmakers from Asia and other part of the globe irrespective of nationality, creed, color and gender. The festival welcomes films of artistic value, creative expression and social commitment upholding peace, cultural harmony, sustainable ecology and rights of women.

Training

Training is another regular activity of Bangladesh Short Film Forum. Every year the scope is announced widely and number of students, cine lovers apply for the training. Students are selected from the applicants by a panel of renowned cinema personalities through interview. This filmmaking workshop has already attained great acceptance among the younger group and has been successful in creating very significant impact in the students/participants. Two groups under two different coordinators complete two independent workshop productions in film format. The workshop productions from all the earlier courses have received lot of appreciations from various audience and critic groups and the participants remained with the forum as regular volunteers. Renowned film personalities, international award winning filmmakers and film-critics, film theoreticians are the regular lecturer in these workshops.

Forum also organizes and conducts training and appreciation courses on various technical and aesthetic aspects of cinema. Some of these courses were on filmmaking, cinematography, editing, sound and postproduction. Besides the regular yearly complete film making main course, many of these courses have been organized either in collaboration or with the assistance of the government film archive, dept. of mass communication, NGOs and the foreign cultural missions in Dhaka. Trainers from Germany, UK and other countries were made available with the help of the missions, conducted many courses.

Film making Support & Country-wide Film Distribution Network

The objectives of this project are aimed at building up a countrywide exhibition, projection and distribution system for screening of films and documentaries by independent filmmakers with the help of a mobile projection unit. Another aim of the project is to provide financial and technical support for young independent and creative film and video makers.

Workshops, Seminars and Campaigning for better cine-culture

Forum regularly organizes workshops, seminars, symposiums, discussion programs on various issues relating to building up better cine culture and to influence the policy making process of the government on cinema. Forum is an active campaigner and regular participant in all government initiatives regarding National Film Policy, Film Festivals, government incentives to creative filmmaking and Censor Board related issues.

Bangladesh Film Center

Forum has established The Bangladesh Film Center- a center for regular cinema Screening. The Film Center has an auditorium with state of art cine-projection facilities both in 16mm and video format. The center has been organizing regular filmmaking workshops and seminars since its inception in 2006.