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Film Festival without Bengali films? Can we even imagine?

Posted On: 31 MAY 2022 6:28PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 31 May 2022

Bengal has a unique place when it comes to cinema. Renowned film-makers Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Kumar Ghatak and Mrinal Sen have created their masterpieces in Bengali that managed to enthrall cine-lovers for a long time. And film-makers from both sides of the border, West Bengal and Bangladesh have made an equal and significant contribution in creating such masterpieces. This 17th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival is also celebrating Bengali films from both sides of the border.

The festival is showcasing highly anticipated Bengali documentaries, short fiction and animation films giving the non-feature films a platform to showcase their talent and passion. MIFF 2022 is paying homage to two of the most influential filmmakers from Bengal - Chidananda Dasgupta and Buddhadeb Dasgupta. Besides, there are many handpicked films in Bengali that are featuring at the 17^th MIFF. These films have been selected and grouped under various categories, viz. competition and non-competition category and every film in the package deserve all acclaim.

Here’s a list of Bengali films that will be screened and celebrated at MIFF 2022.

National Competition
(Documentary) - An Ode to Quietude

Director- Ashok Kumar Chattopadhyay

(Animation) - Radha

Director- Bimal Poddar

(Animation) - Megha

Director- Rishi Bhaumik

National Prism (Documentary) - My Son and His Grandfather

Director- Bijoy Chowdhury

Special Screening

Sukumar Ray

Director- Satyajit Ray

Country Focus; Thinking of Him;Director- Pablo Cesar

Homage (National)

Portrait of a City; Director- Chidananda Dasgupta

Birju Maharaj; Director- Chidananda Dasgupta

Special Packages (National Award-winning films)

I am Bonnie; Director- Sourabh Kanti Datta, Satarupa Santra, Farha Khatun

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings; Director- Prateek Vats

Ladakh Chale Rickshawala; Director- Indrani Chakrabarti

Student Films

Inside the Belly; Director- Ritwik Sinha

This MIFF pays a fitting tribute to Bangladesh as ‘Country of Focus’ this year. These films have been selected based on their art of storytelling, concept, characterization, editing, and several other criteria. The film on Shree Jogesh Dutta and the struggles he came across, from being a penniless refugee from East Bengal to becoming the pioneer of Indian mime, is one among the many films under this package.

‘Country of Focus’ #MIFF2022 to commemorate 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence

Country Focus:
Dojahan (Their stories, their truths); Director- Ratan Paul

Hasina: A daughter’s tale ;Director- Piplu Khan

Jolo Guerrilla’ 71 (Naval Commando); Suman Delowar

Jothorleena; Director- Dilara Begum Jolly

Not a penny, not a gun; Makbul Chowdhury

Kaan Pete Roi (Sound of Silence); Director- Mofidul Hoque

Nisshobdotar Shohor (Silence); Director- Amitabh Reza Chowdhury

Baganiya (Garden of Memories); Director- Humaira Bilkis

Ripples; Director- Suborna Senjutee Tushee

Araimon Shopno; Director- Abu Shahed Emon

Jonmoshathi (Born Together); Director- Shabnam Ferdousi

* * *

PIB MIFF Team | DL/DR/MIFF-33

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If you are touched by the story, do get in touch! Would you like to know more about the film or the filmmaker? In particular, are you a journalist or blogger who wants to speak with those associated with the film? PIB can help you connect with them, reach our officer Mahesh Chopade at +91-9953630802. You can also write to us at miff.pib[at]gmail[dot]com.

For the first post-pandemic edition of the festival, film lovers can participate in the festival online as well. Register for free as an online delegate (i.e., for the hybrid mode) at https://miff.in/delegate2022/hybrid.php?cat=aHlicmlk The competition films can be watched here, as and when the films become available here.