The 2026 Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) will begin on January 10, with Chinese cinema featured prominently as the opening attraction.
DIFF organisers have released the official screening schedule, confirming China’s ‘The Journey to No End’ as the opening film for the festival.
The festival, organised by Rainbow Film Society, includes 11 categories and will screen 246 films from over 70 countries worldwide.
The screenings will take place at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, National Museum, Alliance Française Auditorium and Stamford University Auditorium throughout the city. The opening ceremony will start at 4:00 pm on January 10 at the National Museum auditorium with invited guests attending.
The Journey to No End will screen at 5:30 pm, competing in the Asian Film Competition section during the festival. Iranian film ‘Without Me’ will follow at 7:00 pm, offering audiences a contrasting cinematic perspective during the evening programme slot.
Nine films have been selected for the Bangladesh Panorama section, highlighting diverse contemporary Bangladeshi storytelling voices and creative visions nationwide. Selected titles include ‘Noya Manush’, ‘Uraal’, ‘Dhamrr Gaan’, ‘Noya Note’, ‘Agantuk’, ‘Ekhane Rajnoitik Alap Joruri’ and ‘Utshob’ among other films.
The nine day festival will conclude on January 18 with an awards ceremony celebrating cinematic achievement and international collaboration efforts. This year’s edition will also mark 120 years of Chinese cinema through a special Chinese Film Week programme at DIFF.
