Several countries can be seen beside the sea shore and Village International! Except our Bangladesh! Those countries are waving their flags at the 71st Cannes film festival’s pavilion. I only see those waving flags and get disappointed. Nowhere is our Bangladesh, not even at the official selection.


Countries have organized several stalls at the Cannes centre point Paul Dano. This can be a little satisfaction for me.
Abdul Aziz, the proprietor of Jazz Multimedia has brought ‘Poramon-2’ at ‘Le Marche Du’, the Cannes marketing sector. He has exhibited posters of his production and launched the teaser of the film on May 12, before it was screened at the theatre of Paul Dano of Cannes.
Successful movie producer Aziz wants to hire an entire booth next year.
“We need to browse the international market, or else it’s tough to survive as the cost is high now. We have to follow India’s example to market at an international audience and Cannes is the perfect place for that,” he told Bangla Tribune.
“Everyone comes here, China, Iran, Brazil, Korea; For them, Bangladesh is about garments and Cricket, they are surprised to know about our films. So we need to spread the word. We need to also target the TV channels, not only theatres for the international market. I aim for larger presence next year, want to take booth and display as many as 45 films.”
Films are being shown at the ground floor of Paul Dano. It has been started from Monday, which means 14th May. Four films from Bangladesh are here to be showed. They are- ‘A Pair of Sandals’ by Jasim Ahmed, ‘Meghe Dhaka-Life Without Sun’ by Monjurul Alam, ‘Royai’ by Iqbal Hossain Choudhury and ‘A Quarter Mile Country’ by Noman Robin. I saw all of the directors except Monjurul Alam.
Director Jasim Ahmed told Bangla Tribune, “I have come here to find a Europian co-production for the film ‘Bishakto Prem O Subala’. It’s an India-Bangladesh joint venture film. It will be directed by Indranil Choudhury based on short stories ‘Beauty’ and ‘Satyaban’ by Manik Bandapadhya.”
For the same purpose producer Swapan Ahmed is here. He is the producer of ‘Lal Tip’ and ‘Porobasini’. He steps at Cannes regularly.
Two young directors are here too with Samia Zaman, the president of International Film Initiative of Bangladesh (IFIB). The organization helps out all the young filmmakers. The International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA) project ‘Dhaka to Cannes’ has provided Suman and Sumit with the opportunity to meet well-known producers, directors and film artists here.


“I couldn’t find anyone from Bangladesh even years before. But now the participation is developing. Yes, some can say that we need to take time to come properly. But I would say that you must come here, and the time would change by itself. Most of all it’s a learning institution for newcomers,” Samia Zaman told Bangla Tribune.
Film organiser Ahmed Mujtoba Jamal says, “People are interested about our films. Several people wanted to attend the Dhaka International Film Festival. Slowly, but yes we are progressing.”
The Bangladeshi media also has its presence. Along with, Bangla Tribune Kamrul Islam Rifat from Jamuna TV, Najmul Alam Rana form Channel 24, Ador Rahman of Prothom Alo, Alamgir Kabir from (Naya Diganta) and Partha Sanjay from Ekattor TV. We hang out everyday at the media corner.
All in all, I get the essence of Bangladesh here at the French Bay. Several Bangladeshi films are shown here at Le Marche Du’. I can remember of ‘Oggyatnama’ by Touqir Ahmed and ‘Aaynabaji’ of Amitabh Reja. But still, there’s dissatisfaction as we do not get chance to compete for the awards.
Bangladesh hasn’t recorded any history of Official Selection yet, except the ‘Matir Moyna’ of Tarek Masud, which was nominated in 2002 for Director’s Fortnight. The movie won Cannes Phippereski Prize too!
Also ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ by Kamar Ahmed was nominated last year in a category, for which he was invited.
The official Cannes poster features a scene from a film of Jean Luc Godard, who once said, “The similarity between film and Palestine is, both are seeking freedom”. I say, that’s the case of Bangladesh, which is seeking international recognition in platforms like the Cannes Festival.