The 24th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) concluded on Saturday, January 18, with a closing ceremony celebrating global cinema.
‘Kurak’, directed by Erke Dzhumakmatova and Emil Atageldiev of Kyrgyzstan, won Best Film in the Asian Film Competition section.
Bangladesh’s ‘What If’ by Tanha Tabassum and ‘The University of Chankharpul’ by Monirul Haque received the FIPRESCI Bangladesh Awards in their respective categories.
The Bangladesh–South Korea co-production ‘Drained by Dreams’, directed by Sheikh Al Mamun, won the Audience Award, while China’s ‘Shi Jie Ri Chu Shi’ (All Quiet at Sunrise) by Xin Zhu received the Best Audience Award.
In the documentary category, ‘The Guardian of Stories’ by Claudia Bellasi and Markus Steiner Ender won Best Documentary Film. South Korean filmmaker Younguee Yoo earned Best Fiction Film for ‘Ingan Chogeddae Algorijum: The Movie’ (A Vast Algorithm of Humanity: The Movie).
China’s ‘Qingtong & Kuihua’, directed by Chen Kunhou, won Best Children’s Film: the Badal Rahman Award.
In the Women Filmmakers Section, ‘Little Syria’ by Madalina Rosca and Reem Karssli won Best Documentary Film, while ‘Chistyy list’ (From Scratch) by Polina Kondrateva won Best Fiction Film. Aizada Bekbalaeva received Best Director for ‘Zhetinchy Ai’ (The Seventh Month).
Within the Asian Film Competition, ‘OT’ (Burning) won Best Script. Kazakhstan’s Abel received awards for Best Cinematography and Best Actor. Iranian actress Fariba Naderi won Best Actress for ‘Shohar-E Setareh’ (The Husband) and Emin Afandiyev won Best Director for ‘Tanha Insanin Monologue’ (A Lonely Person’s Monologue).
In the Bangladesh Panorama Talent Section, ‘Dhet!’ by Ummid Ashraf was First Runner-Up, while ‘Inshite’ by Abir Ferdous Mukhar was Second Runner-Up. What If also received the FIPRESCI Bangladesh Award in this section.
The closing ceremony included a cultural segment featuring performances by singer Ahmed Hasan Sunny, with organisers formally announcing winners across international and local sections.
This year’s festival screened 245 films from 91 countries under the theme “Better Cinema, Better Audience, Better Society”. Screenings were held at the Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Alliance Française de Dhaka and Stamford University Bangladesh.
For the first time, special open-air screenings took place at Cox’s Bazar sea beach with support from the Bangladesh Tourism Board.
The ceremony was presided over by Jalal Ahmed, Chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission. Special guests included Chinese Cultural Counsellor Li Shaopeng, French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet and Alliance Française de Dhaka Director François Chambraud, alongside diplomats, jury members, filmmakers and cultural figures.
Festival Director Ahmed Muztaba Jamal announced that the 25th Dhaka International Film Festival will be held from January 9 to 17, 2027.
