“Mehgmallar” is among the five films from Bangladesh being screened in the IFFI under the “Country in Focus” category on Wednesday.

With the motto, “Better Film, Better Audience, Better Society”, the 19th Dhaka International Film Festival is underway. As part of the festival, on January 17-18, the 7th Dhaka International Conference on Women in Cinema was held at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises.

Having recently crossed 19 million views organically, Minar’s “Keu Kotha Rakheni” is one of the most astounding success stories for a song that has been released from a personal YouTube channel. The singer-songwriter and talented artist talks about his super-hit song, as well as future plans heading into 2021.

Freedom fighter and actor Mujibur Rahman Dilu passed away at around 6:40 am today, at the capital’s United Hospital. The news was confirmed by his son, Ayon Rahman. He was suffering from multiple health problems, including lung infection. His condition was critical. Although he tested negative for Covid-19, he had severe pneumonia.

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) dedicated the ‘Country in Focus’ segment to Bangladesh. Festival Director Chaitanya Prasad said, “We are honoured to have this segment for Bangladesh, as it coincides with 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations.”

Prominent Sylhet-based cultural activist and freedom fighter Nizamuddin Laskar passed away in a private hospital in the district at 9:15 pm yesterday. He was undergoing treatment for a brain stroke that he had received on January 8. He was 69 years old at the time of passing.

Rock producer Phil Spector, who changed the sound of pop music in the 1960s with his “Wall of Sound” recordings and was convicted of murder for the 2003 murder of a Hollywood actress, has died at age 81 of Covid-19, according to media reports on Sunday.

The Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) was adorned in film posters and other festivities, as stars from the entertainment world made their presence felt for the National Film Awards for the year 2019.

The 19th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) began yesterday, with the screening of Suzanne Lindon-directed French film “Spring Blossom.” The inaugural ceremony of the event was held at the Main Auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum.

Noting that the government will develop infrastructures needed for filmmaking up to upazila-level, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged filmmakers to produce high-quality films -- upholding the glorious history and spirit of the Liberation War -- for future generations in order to counter distorted history.

“Response to Numbness”, an ongoing experience-sharing initiative, is an exhibition by Emran Sohel, with live performances and critical discussion sessions. The two-day event concludes today. Supported by Goethe-Institut under the banner of ‘A Future Beyond the Self’ and being an extension of the ‘zero waste of food art’ philosophy, this exhibition aims at exhaling the various frustrations induced by the anxiety related to the global pandemic.

Freedom fighter and actor Mujibur Rahman Dilu was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at United Hospital in the capital recently. He is suffering from multiple health problems, including lung infection. His condition is critical. However, he tested negative for Covid-19. Doctors have given him plasma therapy. His son, Ayon Rahman, confirmed the news to The Daily Star.

The 51st edition of the International Film Festival of India in Goa has decided to confer actor Biswajit Chatterjee with the Indian Personality of the Year Award, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Bangladeshi director Rezwan Shahriar Sumit’s acclaimed debut feature film “Nonajoler Kabbo” won the Best Film in the Asian Select NETPAC category of the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival, reports our New Delhi correspondent. The festival ended at Nandan Cultural Center on Friday.

Sohel Rana came into the limelight with the film, “Masud Rana”. He has made outstanding contributions to the industry, not only as a noted actor, but also as a director and producer. Sohel Rana will be receiving the lifetime achievement award at the National Film Awards.

Having lost his family, the journey of a Muslim man digging a hundred graves to enter shapes the story of The Grave, the first Bangladeshi film to be made in English.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will distribute the prestigious National Film Awards among its recipients on Sunday in 26 categories for the year 2019.

National Award-winning actor Arifin Shuvoo entered the world of showbiz with television, making his way to the silver screen with hits like “Dhaka Attack” (2017) and “Shapludu” (2018), among many other memorable hits.

“The plot is layered with modern political and social contexts in very subtle ways,” shares the director. “Though it is about a family, it represents the image of the state at many levels.”

The 19th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) will kick off tomorrow at the main auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum. This year’s festival is dedicated to the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dr A K Abdul Momen MP is expected to be the chief guest on the occasion, along with Indian High Commissioner H.E. Vikram K Doraiswami as a special guest. Owing to the ongoing pandemic, the DIFF will be held in a hybrid format, with both physical and virtual arrangements.