Entertainment Report :
Filmmakers and activists from more than 30 organisations across the country held
a protest rally at in front of the National Museum in the capital’s Shahbagh area protesting the inconsistencies in the process of national film grants.
The rally was organised on Monday after the list of movies that received the government grants between 2021 and 2022 was announced. Bangladesh Short Film Forum, Bangladesh Pramanyachitra Parshad, Bangladesh Chalachchitra and Television Institute Praktoni Sangsad, Bangladesh Film Archive Alumni Association, Rajshahi Film Society, Sylhet Film Society, Sreemangal Chalachchitra Sangsad, Dhaka University Chalachchitra Sangsad, Jagannath University Chalachchitra Sangsad, Toronto Film Forum, Khulna Film Society and Tangail Chalachchitra Sangsad, among others, participated in the protest rally.
Besides, renowned film activists, Manzare Hassin Murad, Nasiruddin Yousuff, N Rashed Chowdhury, Zahidur Rahim Anjan, Faridur Rahman, Humaira Bilkis and Shiyan Shahriar Alamgir, among others, were present at the programme. The protest rally was organised by filmmaker Aparajita Sangita.
Speakers at the rally criticised the priority given to commercial movies in the National Film Grants. They also asked for independent cinema to be prioritised for the government grants, while commercial movies should be moved to a separate category.
In his speech, noted filmmaker Nasir Uddin Yousuff said, “Film history would be incomplete without the inclusion of documentary films. In order to preserve film as a medium of art, we must give grants to documentary movies.”
N Rashed Chowdhury said, “Commercial movies do not play an effective role in developing the country’s film industry. Such movies only generate profit. The government should not focus on commercial films but rather consider documentary films for providing grants.”
Shiyan Shahriar Alamgir, President of DU Film Society, said, “We have not seen any quality movies, which represent our culture and heritage, made with government grants. As a result, the aim of providing grants is not fulfilled. Commercial movies are made for making a profit but documentary movies are documentation of time, which is crucial.”
Khandaker Sumon, President of Dhaka Chalachchitra Andolan, said, “Although this is an old issue, but we are standing together for the first time under the same platform for pressing home these demands. We demand that a transparent process should be introduced to select films for government grants. Only providing grants to commercial films will bring no good to our film industry.” Filmmaker Laboni Ashrafi said, “I think films belonging to all categories should get government grants so that more films can be made.”
Noted filmmaker and producer Manzare Hasin Murad said, “The grants were established to support movies that spoke of our country, its people, the liberation war, our culture, struggles and achievements. However, in the last couple of years, the objective of the grants is no longer clear.” He further criticised commercial movies and saying, “I don’t want to disrespect anyone but can Shakib Khan not produce a movie? Why does he need a government grant for his movie? Nowhere else in the world does a government provide grants to commercial movies?”
The organisations jointly placed a charter of 10-point demand, including independent movies must get priority for government grants and there should be other plans for commercial movies, government grants must be ensured for documentary movies and a separate jury board must be formed for such movies, at least 15 to 20 government grants should be given to short films, obligations must not be imposed on filmmakers, full freedom must be granted to filmmakers while making films, the government must take the responsibility to screen films at cinemas, government grants must be provided through a transparent process forming a distinct board and the grant-giving policies have to be reformed and the ministry-concerned must follow it.
