The 24th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) will be held from January 10 to 18, 2026. Ahead of the festival, organisers have announced the names of five international judges who will evaluate films in the Women Directors category. This year’s panel includes renowned Bangladeshi actress-producer Afsana Mimi, who will join creative personalities from four other countries.
The Women Directors category is one of the festival’s most significant sections, featuring feature films, short films and documentaries made by women directors. The best documentary, best fiction and best director in this category are selected by an independent jury composed of women directors, artists and cultural experts. Winners receive certificates and crests.
In addition to Afsana Mimi, the panel includes Aleksandra Markovic, a UK-based Croatian documentary filmmaker and educator; Ronak Taher, an Iranian-Australian filmmaker and visual artist; Geraldine Villamil, a renowned Philippine film and stage actress; and Marion Standefer, a Paris-based American teacher and filmmaker.
Festival organisers say this year’s panel represents a unique blend of cultural backgrounds and experiences, bringing fresh insight to the evaluation of women filmmakers’ work.
Alongside the festival, the two-day 12th Dhaka International Conference on Women in Cinema 2026 will be held, organised by the Rainbow Film Society in collaboration with the Department of Women and Gender Studies at the University of Dhaka. Women filmmakers and researchers from around the world will participate in the conference, which takes place at the Dhaka Club on January 11 and 12.
Festival director Ahmed Mujtaba Zaman said this year the festival has received a record number of films from the highest number of countries, marking a new milestone in DIFF’s history.
However, organisers acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly a lack of sponsorship and called for cooperation to ensure the festival reaches international standards.
