20 feature films receive government grants

The Ministry of Information first provided a government grant of Tk2.5 lakh each to four film projects back in the fiscal year of 1976-77. Since then, the ministry has been granting funds to film-makers each year.

For the budget year of 2020-2021, the Ministry of Information announced the list of films receiving grants on June 15.

Last year, the Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud informed that the number of films receiving grants was increased in order to support and sustain the industry.

25 films, including 16 full length and 9 short films, received grants in the last fiscal year. This year, 20 full length films have been deemed eligible for the grants.  

Liberation War, general, and children's films were the three categories in which the grants were allocated.

Also Read - National Film Grant incites mixed reactions

Zahangir Hossain Mintu's "Khoma Nei", Naeem Imtiaz Neyamul's "Shaare Tin Haath Bhumi", Ujjal Kumar Mondol's "Mrittyunjoyee", F M Shahin and Hasan Jafrul's "Mic", Lubna Sharmin's "Nuliachorir Shonar Pahar", Kazi Hayat's "Joy Bangla", Anirudh Rasel's "Jomidaari", Zahidur Rahman Anjan's "Chaader Omaboshsha", Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's "Roid", Amitabh Reza Chowdhury's "Pencile Aka Pori", Arun Chowdhury's "Jole Jole", Aruna Biswas' "Oshombhob", Mirza Shakawat Hossain's "Bhangon", Rakibul Hasan Chowdhury's "Daowal", Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury's "Boli", Tamanna Sultana's "Srabon Jochnai", Ashutosh Bhattacharjee's "Deshantor", SA Haque Alik's "Golui", Ibrahim Khalil Mishu's "Deyaler Desh" and Kabirul Islam Rana's "Jolrong" are the 20 full-length films that received the grants this year.

For the last few years, the official list of the grant-receiving films drew criticism from the artistes, distributors and netizens for a perceived decline in quality.

The list of short film grant awardees was also released. Ten filmmakers were granted 14-20lack Taka each to complete their short length fiction or documentary. 

The directors selected in this category are Mehzad Ghalib, Mehedi Hassan Arnob, Shopno Shomudro, Shaila Rahman Tithi, Nasreen Islam, Shamsuddin Ahmad Shiblu, Russel Rana, Fazle Hasan Shishir, Emdadul Hoque Khan and Tasmiah Afrin Mou.