Kushtia Film Society

One of the film societies of Khulna division, and at present the only regularly active one.

Kushtia Film Society began its journey on 26 March 2010 with a one-day Independence Day film screening. From that very day we started our activities with a group of film-loving local volunteers. In stages, in October 2011 we organised a two-day international film screening and a national film screening at the Kushtia District Shilpakala Academy. In June 2011 the first executive committee of Kushtia Film Society was formed, and a Facebook page and group were created on this popular communication medium to publicise the regular activities.

It was from there that we came to know about the activities of Moviyana Film Society, the Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh and all the other film societies across Bangladesh. Under the guidance of Belayet Hossain Mamun, the respected general secretary of the present Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh and president of Moviyana Film Society, a one-day workshop on "films and film societies" was organised in Kushtia in December 2011.

Belayet Hossain Mamun and the filmmaker Saiful Islam Jarnal were present there as discussants. With more than fifty participants, including the regular workers of Kushtia Film Society, the workshop was completed in two sessions. The workshop essentially brought a new dimension to the activities of Kushtia Film Society as a film organisation. In continuation of this, from 2012 onwards Kushtia Film Society has been carrying on its activities regularly with the cooperation of Mr Amirul Islam, general secretary of the Kushtia District Shilpakala Academy.

To date Kushtia Film Society has organised two Independence Day film screenings, two Victory Day film screenings and one national film festival. It also runs its activities with the support of a memorial meeting for the writer Humayun Ahmed and film screenings, as well as by helping to organise the Suchitra Sen Film Festival as part of the central programme of the present Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at the District Shilpakala Academy.

In 2013 Kushtia Film Society played an important role in the making of two films. It organised the premiere shows of two films: "Hok-er Ghor", the documentary made by filmmaker Fakhrul Arefin Khan about the lives and movement of the followers of Lalon Saiji, and "Right or Wrong", the short film made by Hossain M. S. Heerak, a young local filmmaker of Kushtia.

In December 2013 Kushtia Film Society became a member of the Sammilita Sangskritik Jote (United Cultural Front), Kushtia. Initially the society's activities were run on members' subscriptions and donations. Through five years of regular activities, Kushtia Film Society has already earned a name for itself in the cultural arena of Kushtia. At present the society's online page has 1,600 members and its group 2,500. There are 51 life members, and the committee has 15 members.

Name of the organisation: "Kushtia Film Society"

Address: 43/1 Khodadad Khan Road, Thanapara, Kushtia - 7000

Founded: 26 March 2010 as "Youth Film Council, Kushtia". Later, on 26 March 2011, it was renamed "Kushtia Film Society".

Proposed programme of Kushtia Film Society for 2015-16:

• Formation of film clubs in 6 upazilas.
• Arranging screenings at the school and college level and forming film clubs.
• Holding film-making workshops.
• Jointly with the district liberation war command and the Shilpakala Academy, organising film screenings on the liberation war and liberation war quizzes at primary schools.
• Providing support for film production in Kushtia and presenting new films through premiere shows.

Activities:

• 26 March 2010 — the first Independence Day film screening, held as "Youth Film Council, Kushtia" at the Kushtia Public Library.
• 22 and 23 October 2010 — a two-day international film festival held as "Youth Film Council, Kushtia" at the District Shilpakala Academy.
• 26 March 2011 — display of information and documentary footage on the liberation war as "Youth Film Council, Kushtia" on the grounds of the Kushtia Public Library.
• 15 August 2011 — screening of the documentary "Bangabandhu" as "Youth Film Council, Kushtia" on the field of the Kushtia Government University.
• 27 December 2011 — a workshop on film and the film movement organised at its own office under the name "Kushtia Film Society".
• 14 February 2012 — on the occasion of World Love Day, the film "Kalbela" was screened in the hall room of the Specialized Medical Institute.
• 27 March 2012 — on the occasion of the historic Independence Day, screening of the liberation-war films "Guerrilla" and "Amar Bondhu Rashed" at the District Shilpakala Academy, together with a quiz competition on Kushtia in the liberation war and on films.
• April 2013 — a three-day Humayun Ahmed film screening.
• September 2013 — the premiere of the short film "Right or Wrong", made by Hossain Heerak with the cooperation of Kushtia Film Society.
• January 2014 — premiere screening of "Hok-er Ghor", made by Fakhrul Arefin Khan, winner of the National Film Award. The chief guest was Zafar Iqbal.
• June 2014 — a human chain to protest against attacks on minorities.
• 2014 — served as an organising partner of the centenary celebrations of Gitanjali.
• November 2014 — gained membership of the Federation of Film Societies.
• Mangal Shobhajatra (festive procession) organised on Pohela Boishakh, 14 April, in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
• As part of the central programme of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, held a week-long festival jointly with the District Shilpakala Academy as an organising partner in memory of the late Suchitra Sen.
• March 2015 — the third Independence Day film festival was organised. At the two-day festival were shown Mannan Heera's Ekattorer Khudiram, Tanvir Mokammel's Jibondhuli, Impress Telefilm's Anukrosh, and the short filmmaker Iftikhar Fagun's deeply moving '71.
• 14 April 2015 — celebratory release of the film Katus–Kutus.
• 8-10 May 2015 — a three-day Tagore film festival organised jointly with the district administration at the kuthi bari (Tagore's mansion) in Shilaidaha. The festival screened Satyajit Ray's Ghare Baire, Rituparno Ghosh's Noukadubi, and the award-winning short films Subha and Dakghar.
• On 4, 5 and 6 June 2015 Kushtia Film Society is going to organise 6 shows of the new popular film "Chhuiye Dil Mon", directed by Shihab Shaheen.

Advisory council:

1. Amirul Islam, general secretary, District Shilpakala Academy, Kushtia.

2. Md. Saifur Rahman, assistant general manager and regional head, Agrani Bank Limited.

3. Khandaker Iqbal Mahmud, director, The Kushtia Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

4. Shaheen Sarker, joint general secretary, District Shilpakala Academy, Kushtia.

5. Dr. Amanur Aman, editor and publisher, Dainik Kushtia and The Kushtia Times.

6. M. L. Kabir Tuhin, adviser and patron, Kushtia Film Society.

7. Mazhar Alam Sumon, joint editor, Bangladesh Awami League central sub-committee.

8. Belayet Hossain Mamun, general secretary, Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh; president, Moviyana Film Society.

9. Hasibur Rahman Rizvi, editor and publisher, Dainik Satyakhabor; publicity and cultural editor, Kushtia Press Club.

10. Monir Hasan Rintu, director, South Asian Specialized Education Group, Kushtia.

11. Sufi Faruq Ibn Abubakar, founder-director, SASEG, Kushtia.

12. Zubaeri Parvez Bappy, chairman, Multi Business Corporation.

13. Barrister Gourab Chaki, lawyer, High Court Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

14. Roksana Parveen, convener, Na Bola Kotha (organisation).

Contact:

1. President - Md. Muhaiminur Rahman (Pollol) - 01711002448

2. General secretary - Shimul Bishwas - 01842522806

3. Organising secretary - M. G. Farhad Hossain - 01757525305

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