Grooming storytellers in the bud

Twenty young Bangladeshi filmmakers produced four films in Cox’s Bazar, as a part of a weeklong residential workshop (September 20-27) organised by the British Council, in partnership with Children’s Film Society, Bangladesh and First Light. The workshop was led by British filmmakers Daniel Smith and Nina Jones.These four short films will be premiered at the upcoming International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh in January 2014.Speaking there, Executive Member of Bangladesh Children Film Society Morshedul Islam said this kind of film-residency was unprecedented in Bangladesh.One of the conductors of the workshop, Nina Jones said she was not expecting to find a bunch of young adults with such fantastic knowledge of film and endless enthusiasm, adding that she was “in awe” of their work.The pioneering initiative by the British Council and the partners has generated considerable interest among Bangladeshi film enthusiasts. It is aimed at developing future filmmakers of Bangladesh, and bridging the gap with British filmmakers.