The Bangladesh International Short and Independent Film Festival (BISIFF) is a biennial film festival held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It focuses on contemporary short films, animation, documentaries, and independent feature films. Organized by the Bangladesh Short Film Forum, it is the oldest short film festival in South Asia.
History The festival was established in December 1988 by members of the Bangladesh Short Film Forum, including pioneer filmmaker Tareque Masud, as a non-competitive platform for non-commercial cinema. Its inaugural edition featured prominent international filmmakers, including Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi and Indian directors Mrinal Sen, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Gautam Ghose, and Aparna Sen.
The 16th edition of the festival took place from 25 February to 4 March 2022, showcasing 414 films from 130 countries and honoring veteran directors Tanvir Mokammel and Manzarehasin Murad with the Hiralal Sen Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 17th edition was held from 20 to 27 December 2024, screening 276 films from over 100 countries. The 17th edition was dedicated to the martyrs of the 2024 July Uprising and the birth centenary of painter SM Sultan, with Palestine designated as the country focus.
Format and venues The festival typically runs over eight days across key cultural centers in Dhaka. Major venues include the Bangladesh National Museum Auditorium, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Music and Dance Auditorium, the Central Public Library Auditorium, and the Bangladesh Film Archive Auditorium.
In addition to screenings, the programming incorporates special retrospective packages, regional focus sessions, country showcases, and academic seminars on independent film distribution and production.
Awards While originally a non-competitive showcase, competitive award sections were introduced over time. Key distinctions presented by international juries include: International Competition Best Fiction Film International Competition Best Documentary Tareq Shahrier Best Independent Short Award – conferred upon emerging Bangladeshi filmmakers NETPAC Jury Award – for outstanding Asian cinema Hiralal Sen Lifetime Achievement Award – for lifelong contributions to independent filmmaking
Organizers The festival is organized and managed by the Bangladesh Short Film Forum (BSFF), an association of independent filmmakers established in 1986. Festival planning, film submission intake, and archival operations are handled through the Bangladesh Film Center located in Shahbagh, Dhaka.
Notable participants Filmmakers and international delegates who have participated in the festival include: Krzysztof Zanussi (Poland) Xie Fei (China) Garin Nugroho (Indonesia) Mrinal Sen (India) Buddhadeb Dasgupta (India) Shyam Benegal (India) Aparna Sen (India) Gautam Ghose (India) Tanvir Mokammel (Bangladesh) Tareque Masud (Bangladesh)
See also Dhaka International Film Festival Bangladesh Short Film Forum Cinema of Bangladesh
References
External links
BISIFF on FilmFreeway