The workshop was conducted virtually for the pandemic and the last session was delayed due to the cyclone Amphan
In partnership with the US Embassy in Dhaka, Film Independent and Global Media Makers (GMM) were planning to bring a Creative Producing Workshop & Pitching Workshop to Dhaka in March 2020. Due to the global pandemic, the workshop has been transitioned into a virtual, interactive workshop that was held online, using video-conferencing technology, maintaining all the elements of the physical workshop.
The workshop ended today. The last session was delayed due to the cyclone Amphan.
The objective of the workshop was to provide Bangladeshi filmmakers the opportunity to develop their pitch, discuss their projects and receive feedback from the US mentors as well as their peers. Each workshop participant had the opportunity to pitch his or her project twice.
The workshop also provided an overview of US independent film development strategies and explored how these practices can be applied in Bangladesh.
With the assistance of Bangladeshi filmmakers, Rezwan Shahriar Sumit and Arifur Rahman, who are also Global Media Makers Fellows, GMM reached out to Bangladeshi film organizations, such as The Bangladesh Short Film Forum, Khona Talkies, the International Film Initiative of Bangladesh, Dhaka Doc Lab, Box Office and Chaibal for workshop participant nominations.
Twelve Bangladeshi film-makers were selected to participate:
Redoan Rony / Dour (Run), Nuhash Humayun / Moving Bangladesh, Chaitali Somadder / A Walk, Farzana Boby / Rhythm Of Bubble, Sumon Delwar / My Sister My Friend, Sardar Zahidul Islam / The Island Of Misfits, Mahmudul Islam / Iblish, Tasmiah Afrin / Stolen Wings, Farid Ahmad / Waiting For Winter, Rawyan Shayema / Sub-Way, and Sadia Khalid / To See Your Face.
Four US mentors, who have worked closely with Film Independent’s various programs and are highly regarded in the film industry in the United States and by previous Film Independent and Global Media Makers Fellows and workshop participants served as instructors.
The workshop was led by American producing team: Tatiana Kelly and Jim Young (Life of A King, The Man Who Knew Infinity, The Words). Script consultant and story editor Ruth Atkinson (Sheikh Jackson) led a session on story structure.
They were joined by American writer, director Javier Fuentes-León who had an open discussion about the challenges facing independent filmmakers, presenting his film, El Elefante Desaparecido as case study. This session was moderated by María Raquel Bozzi, the Senior Director of Film Education and International Initiatives at Film Independent.
The workshop participants had the opportunity to watch six Project Involve short films. Project Involve is Film Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry. The nonprofit’s mission is to champion creative independence in visual storytelling and support a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision.
After watching the short films, the participants attended a virtual panel featuring several of the filmmakers of these short films. María Raquel Bozz moderated the panel.
Global Media Makers (GMM) is an innovative mentoring initiative and cultural exchange program designed to build a bridge and foster relationships between American filmmakers and industry professionals with international filmmakers from diverse regions of the world. GMM is supported through a partnership between Film Independent and the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
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