Entertainment Desk: 'Weekend Short Film Challenge' competition has been held for the first time in Bangladesh. The competition is organized by Short Film Lab (SFL), a community service organization based in Qatar.

weekend short film

The event concluded on Saturday (October 26) with the final exhibition and award ceremony at the capital's EMK Centre. It showcases short films made by local groups in just 48 hours. Each team created digital stories about the challenges of climate change, bringing unique and emotional perspectives to the fore.

The founder and creative director of SFL. The competition was organized under the leadership of Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, Ella Riddle and Sara Isa, alumni of the SFL mentoring program in Doha. Accelerate Energy, one of the main LNG suppliers in Bangladesh, was the overall supporter.

15 films in competition were screened at the EMK Centre. Out of which five awards and one honorable mention are given in recognition of the talent and creativity of emerging filmmakers. The winning films address topics ranging from water pollution to environmental neglect and climate displacement, highlighting young storytellers using film to raise awareness of environmental action.

Renowned Bangladeshi filmmaker Sadia Khalid Riti, who has served as a judge in several countries including the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in Russia, Iran and France, was present as a judge. The winning teams were awarded various prizes including vouchers from InterContinental Dhaka, Treehouse Restaurant, and Grameen Danone.

Among the top 6 films was 'Climate Darkness' directed by Mahi Noor from 'The Shapers' team, which won the best comedy award. It is a satirical representation of humanity's exploitation of nature, highlighting the prevalence of pollution and waste in the guise of green jobs. 'Climate Refugees of Bangladesh' directed by Shah Newaz Khan Siju of 'Think Tankers' team won the Best Cinematography award. Inspired by World Bank forecasts, the film questions the displacement of millions of Bangladeshis and the city's preparedness.

'Poetry of Dystopia' from the 'Film' team won the best drama award. Amid rapid urban transformation, a bewildered protagonist finds peace in nature, highlighting the struggle between environmental conservation and the chaos of the city. 'Waves of West' won the award for best editing under the leadership of Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan Ghalib of 'BVF Films' team, overwhelmingly.

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Highlighting the catastrophic impact of water pollution and portraying the possible future of neglecting this problem. The 'Blurry Lens of Chaos' team's 'Airborne Abyss' won the award for best original screenplay, in which a father sacrifices everything to protect his family in a suffocating world, highlighting the importance of climate action. 'Hughes of Tomorrow' by 'The Kiwis' team received the honorable mention. Set in a small room, a woman confronts her past decisions and an environmental crisis, which serves as a call for both personal and global change.