Bangladesh Excludes Itself from Kolkata International Film Festival 2024

Bangladesh Withdraws from Kolkata Film Festival

Bangladesh will not participate in the upcoming Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF). This marks the first time in recent years that there will be no entries from Bangladesh, according to an official statement.

The festival, scheduled to start on December 4, will be missing Bangladeshi films, which have previously enjoyed recognition. For instance, in 2022, the film Kura Pokkhir Shunye Ura won the Golden Royal Bengal Tiger crown for best film. Another film, Nonajoler Kabbo, received an award in a prior festival.

This absence follows the exclusion of Bangladeshi publishers from the 48th Kolkata Book Fair, also occurring for the first time in 28 years. Additionally, Bangladeshi film Dear Maloti is unable to compete this year due to its Asian premiere at the ongoing International Film Festival of India in Goa.

There are no Bangladeshi dignitaries or filmmakers scheduled to participate in the festival’s panels and workshops. Visa issues prevented their inclusion.

Film enthusiasts will certainly miss the contributions of Bangladeshi cinema at this year’s event.