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The 14th International Inter University Short Film Festival (IIUSFF) held in Dhaka shared refugee voices in order to draw global attention towards the owes of displaced people across the world.
This year, 16 short films out of 170 that were submitted for the "Short Film on Refugee" category were screened before hundreds of viewers in Barisal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rangamati, and Sylhet districts of Bangladesh.
The films showcased the talent of young filmmakers from around the world, and captured the stories of refugees in Egypt, Germany, India, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Syria, Tunisia, and Türkiye.
IIUSFF was jointly organised by the Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), where young talents make the global community think of its mutual responsibilities to each other.
The event ended on Tuesday with Syrian director Muschirf Shekh Zeyn awarded the winner in the "Short Film on Refugee" category for "Killing Bagheera", a moving story on the risks, challenges, and emotions refugees go through while fleeing for safety, according to UNHCR on Wednesday.
"Films are a powerful tool to communicate and connect. They transcend borders, religions, cultures, and languages and create a sense of awareness and compassion that can translate into empathy and support," said Johannes van der Klaauw, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh.
"Films inform, call for reflection, and can enhance solidarity," Klaauw added.
"This is a platform where young talents make us think of our mutual responsibilities to each other. We thank UNHCR for supporting this film festival. This support has not only a monetary value but is also a huge inspiration for the young filmmakers," said Nasiruddin Yousuff, chief guest of the award ceremony.
"Not only Rohingya refugees generously sheltered in Bangladesh, but each refugee around the world has individual stories. As their displacement continues, the power of film to tell these stories - including through platforms like this - is needed to keep refugees’ resilience, hopes and dreams alive and to inspire action to offer them a brighter future," Klaauw concluded.
This edition of the International Inter University Short Film Festival marked the fifth year of the collaboration between UNHCR and Dhaka University. The jury was made up of six renowned Bangladeshi film critics.