In association with the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, Bioscope 2015, a Bengali Film Festival kicked off today at capital of the United Arab Emirates. On 6-7th November, in two days, the film festival aims to showcase a bouquet of Bengali Films in six different flavors, using them to break the barrier of languages and reach out to people of all cultures.
This is a distinctive attempt to promote a wide platter of films, beyond the scope of typical commercially successful Bengali films. Six popular and critically acclaimed films will be screened – “Bela Seshe”, “Natak er Moto”, “Kadombori”, “Babar nam Gandhiji”, “Aaby Sen” and “Rajkahini”. Most of the potboilers are critically acclaimed. Out of the above, Atunu Ghosh’s “Aaby Sen” is having its World Primere at the festival.
The festival is co-hosted by well-known director Arindam Sil’s production house ‘Nothing Beyond Cinema”. Though there is no film there from his house, he is very enthusiastic for this venture and firmly believes that this will promote Bengali films to International viewers.
Talking about co-hosting the festival, Sil spoke, “I always want Bengali Cinema to reach Global audience. This is an amazing attempt to reach maximum viewers beyond our country. I immediately gave the nod to co-host the festival though there is not a single film of mine.”
As per Arindam, “The reason behind being associated with the Festival is to obtain big market to promote Bengali movies. Wide viewership will help promoting big budget films and more number of films in Bengali, which will help the industry to grow and contribute better to Global Cinema. With the experience of this maiden effort, I believe that further festivals may be arranged on a larger scale.”
Many eminent Bengali actors like Saswata Chottopadhya, who played the role of a hit-man, Sujoy Ghosh's film Kahaani , Monami Ghosh and others are attending the Festival.