Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will distribute the awards at 6pm and address the function as the chief guest.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud will chair the function while Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Ministry Hasanul Haq Inu will attend it as the special guest.

Senior Secretary of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker will deliver the welcome address.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of National Film Awards giving ceremony and extended heartiest greetings and congratulations to film artistes, directors, producers, audiences and all concerned.

In his message, the President said, “I believe that the National Film Award will inspire and encourage all concerned to produce healthy films in the country.”

Film is a strong medium which inspires people in patriotism through presenting the history, heritage, hopes and aspirations as well as it entertains the people, he said, adding, a good film plays a positive role in the development of human qualities.

Realising the immeasurable strength of film, the great architect of independent Bangladesh, the Greatest Bangalee of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had placed the EPFDC Bill in the Provisional Legislative Assembly on March 27, 1957 while he was serving as the Minister for Industries, Commerce and Labour and the bill was passed on April 3 in the same year, Shahabuddin mentioned.

In continuation of the initiative of Bangabandhu, today’s Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) was established in Dhaka as a major milestone in progress of Bangla film, he said.

The President said the government has taken different steps for the expansion of film industry following the footprints of the Father of the Nation.

The initiative includes declaration of April 3 as ‘National Film Day’ and film as an industry and the initiatives of establishing Bangabandhu Film City at Kabirpur and Bangladesh Film and Television Institute, modernization of BFDC and construction of information complexes having modern Cineplex at every district, he mentioned.

“I hope that the Bangla film industry will be flourished with the efforts of the government along with the artistes, co-artistes, directors, producers, viewers and all concerned,” the President said.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the East Pakistan Film Development Corporation (EPFDC) Bill, which was placed by Bangabandhu in the Provisional Legislative Assembly on March 27 in 1957 and was passed on April 3 in the same year, was the foundation of Bangladesh’s film industry.

Film production started regularly from 1959 onwards with limited facilities, she said, adding, the pre-independence period movies like “Kakhono Aseni”, “Knacher Dewal”, “Jiban Theke Newa” strengthened the desire of the people of Bangla for independence.

The timeless film ‘Stop Genocide’ directed by Zahir Raihan played a strong role in mobilizing global opinion by highlighting the brutality of the Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War, the premier said.

Following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Hasina said, the Awami League (AL) government has been implementing massive programme for the development of the country’s film industry for the last 15 years.

“We established Bangabandhu Film City on 105 acres of land at Kabirpur in Gazipur. A new project involving Taka 379 crore is going to start for the expansion and modernization of the film city,” she added.

The ‘BFDC Complex Construction Project’ is being implemented with the aim of increasing the regular income of BFDC and various facilities including development of shooting spots for film, the premier said, adding, approval of another project named ‘Internal beautification of BFDC and expansion of FDC activities at Bangladesh Television Center in Chattogram’ is underway.

“We have constructed a state-of-the-art Bangladesh Film Archive building. We have increased the amount of grants for producing healthy films and declared films as an industry,” she said.

Noting that National Film Policy-2017 was formulated, the Prime Minister said, “We have established film and television institutes to create talented and skilled workers for the film industry. We are regularly giving donations to the insolvent film artistes and co-artistes.”

The government has updated the film censor act and rules, Sheikh Hasina said, adding, the draft of updated law introducing certification system instead of censoring films has been approved by the cabinet.

The ‘Task Force’ continues its activities to control the production and exhibition of unhealthy movies and piracy of films, she said, adding, as a result, movie piracy has been stopped to a large extent.

The biopic “Mujib: The Making of a Nation” jointly produced by Bangladesh and India based on the life and works of Father of the Nation on the occasion of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary was screened at more than 600 cinema halls in home and abroad, the premier said, adding that the movie was released in India in both Bangla and Hindi languages.

“I extend my sincere thanks to its maker famous Indian director Shyam Benegal. I hope this movie be considered as one of the greatest achievements in the history of Bangladeshi cinema,” she said.

Taking inspiration from this movie, the country’s film will be enriched with national production and present the true history of the Liberation War and the journey of democracy, reflecting the hopes and aspirations of the nation, the premier continued.

To build the country as a modern, merit-based and smart Bangladesh for the next generation, filmmakers will come forward to make life-based and realistic films, she said, adding, “I hope that the reputation that our film has gained in the international arena beyond the borders of the country will shine even more”.

The President and the Prime Minister wished a success of the National Film Award-2022 distribution ceremony.

Earlier, on October 31, the names of the recipients of the National Film Awards-2022 were announced in 27 categories.

‘Kura Pokkhir Shunne Ura’ and ‘Poran’ movies, produced by Muhammad Quayum and Md Tamzid Ul Alam respectively, jointly won the award in the best film category.

Eminent artistes Kamrul Alam Khan Khasru (valiant Freedom Fighter) and Rowshon Ara Rozina popularly known as ‘Rozina’ won the lifetime achievement awards for 2022 for their enormous contributions to the film industry.

Syeda Rubaiyat Hossain has been given the best director award for his film ‘Made in Bangladesh’ (also known in Bengali as ‘Shimu’).

 Chanchal Chowdhury was named the best actor for his leading role in film Hawa (Wind), while the best actress in leading role award 2022 jointly went to Jaya Ahsan for film ‘ The Beauty Circus’ and Rikita Nandini Shimu for film ‘Shimu’.

The best actor in supporting role award went to Md Nasir Uddin Khan for film ‘Poran’ while Afsana Karim Mimi aka Afsana Mimi won the best supporting actress award for film ‘ Paap Punyo (Vice and Virtue)’.

Subhashis Bhowmik was awarded best actor in a negative role for film ‘ Deshantor ‘.

Brishty Akhter and Muntaha Amelia won the best child artiste award jointly for films ‘ Rohingya’ and ‘Birotto’ respectively.

Ripon Khan (Mahmudul Islam Khan) bagged the best music director’s award for a song in the film ‘Payer Chaap’.

 The best singer award jointly went to Bappa Mazumder for the song ‘E Mon Vije Jay’ of the film ‘Operation Sundarbans’ and Chandan Sinha for the song Thikana Bihin tomake of the film ‘Hridita’.

Atiya Anisha got the best female singer award for the song ‘Ei Shohorer Pothe Pothe’ in film ‘Payer Chaap’.

Documentary Bangabandhu and Dhaka University was awarded in the best documentary category while short film ‘Ghore Fera’ was awarded in the best short film category.

The other award winners are: Rabiul Islam Jibon (best lyricist), Shouquat Ali Imon (best composer), Faridur Reza Sagar (story), Khorshed Alam Khosru (story), Muhammad Quayum (screenwriter), S A Huq Olik (dialogue), Sujon Mahmud (editor), Himadri Barua (best art direction), Farjina Akhter (special award under best child artist category), Ripon Nath (sound designer), Tansina Shawon (costume) and Md Khokon Mollah (makeup).

-BSS.