DIMFF 2022 announcement on National Film Day

Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) 2022 announced its open-call for film submissions for the 8th season from April 3, 2021. Like the previous year, there are three categories: Independent, Competition and One-Minute Film.

Every year on April 3, Bangladesh observes National Film Day. For the past seven years, DIMFF starts their film submission for the forthcoming festival on this very day to pay homage to the local film industry. 

This year keeping the tradition, on April 3, Saturday at 11 am DIMFF arranged the launching ceremony that took place on the digital platform, Google Meet. The event incorporated a panel discussion on "Understanding Motivations To Use Mobile Filmmaking in The Mainstream Film Industry''. Two eminent Bangladeshi film experts, critic and screenwriter Sadia Khalid Reeti and director Anam Biswas, were present to discuss this topic. 

Also read: 'The Lost Pen' from France wins big at DIMFF 2021

The Dean of ULAB School of Social Science, Professor Dr Jude William Genilo, initiated the event with a brief speech where he said: “The mobile phone has become one mean little device in the art of storytelling. It is in this light that we are expecting better films for us to showcase in 2022. Who knows, the mobile phone may even become part of mainstream filmmaking in the future.” 

Director Anam Biswas stated in his inaugural speech: “What I love about it is that those of us who want to make films can make a film whenever and wherever through this approach”. While Dhaka Tribune Showtime Editor, Sadia Khalid Reeti, noted: “Mobile film has seized its place in the most prestigious platforms, nowadays. So we can't trivialize them.” 

Beraat Gokkus, the DIMFF Best Film Award winner 2021 was also present at the event. He thanked DIMFF by saying: “It was  great to be a part of this festival because it was very professional. Honestly, when I applied with my film, I was not expecting this kind of a serious festival. Because usually mobile film festivals are little and they are so new. Thank you for accepting my film and giving me the best film award.”

Howon Kim, actor-director from Busan who participated in 2019, said: “My film, Hi How are You, had a really great review from you guys last year, 2020. So I was really happy about it.” 

Lastly, Dr Abdul Kabil Khan, Advisor of DIMFF concluded the program with  an expression of gratitude to all the attendees, ULAB and the organizing committee of DIMFF. 

DIMFF changed the name of Screening Category of ‘DIMFF Best Film Award’ into Independent Category. Filmmakers from all over the world can submit their film in this category. Only students from different universities can submit their films in the Competition category; this category’s best film will get the “Cinemascope Best Film” award. Moreover, DIMFF’s the “One-minute film” category is for the school-going students from class 1 to 12, and the best film from this category will receive the “ULAB Young Filmmaker” award. The independent category’s films can be of any duration. Competition category films length should be no longer than 10 minutes, and film under the “One Minute film” category has to be of one-minute length. For both the latter categories, duration includes title and credit line. Each participant can submit two films with compulsory English subtitles.   

With the moto "New generation, New tool, New communication" DIMFF commenced its journey back in 2015, mainly to inspire people to create films using mobile phones.  

The 8th Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) will be held on February 25 & 26, 2022.