Sara Afreen curates, Kamar Ahmad Simon hosts Berlinale Spotlight event

Goethe-Institut Bangladesh in partnership with the World Cinema Fund Berlinale is introducing a new online screening series of WCF-funded films called Berlinale Spotlight World Cinema Fund. Kamar Ahmad Simon will host the first of the four screenings, curated by producer Sara Afreen. 

This series has been arranged for the first time in four South Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh). The films of this 4 month stretching event were picked from around 200 WCF awarded projects. Kamar also received World Cinema Fund (WCF) from Berlinale for his upcoming film, Shikolbaha (Iron Stream). 

Also read: Simon’s Shikolbaha starts production with mystery cast member

The screenings will kick off online on Friday, January 29, at 7:30pm BST, with Egyptian film, Akher Ayam El Madina (In the Last Days of the City), by Tamer El Said. The film won the Caligari Film Award at the Berlin International Film Festival 2016 (Forum) and Best Director at the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema. 

Kamar will conduct the live Q&A session with Berlinale’s Caligari Film Prize and Buenos Aires International Festival winner Tamer. Kamar said: "I agreed to the event after knowing the scope to chat with contemporary art house filmmakers around the world." "We have selected cinemas based on Cinematic Brilliance and people in different countries," added Sara Afreen.

Dr Kirsten Hackenbroch, Director, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh said: “The initiative aims at inspiring young filmmakers to make unconventional and authentic films, and in addition fosters inter-regional networking”.

Vincenzo Bugno, the head of the Berlinale World Cinema Fund said: “We are dealing with demanding and dangerous times. More than ever we are trying our best in order to support the production of films in WCF regions but also their visibility: we are grateful to the Goethe-Institut for giving us this opportunity”

Audiences may watch the film live, followed by Q&A Talk by clicking at the film link, which will be shared simultaneously through the Facebook page and website of Goethe-Institut Bangladesh as per the film schedule.