Dhaka University Film Society


Dhaka University Film Society, also known as DUFS, is a voluntary student organization of the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. DUFS is an active member of the Federation of Film Societies of Bangladesh and is a Teacher-Student Centre-based students' organization.
Professor Dr. Mohammad Touhidul Anwar was the first club moderator. The current moderator of the Society is AAMS Arefin Siddique, former vice chancellor of the university.

Activities

The Dhaka University Film Society participates in a number of activities every year in addition to the festivals and publications they host.

World Film Manifestation Program

World Film Manifestation Program, commonly known as WFMP, is a monthly film screening by DUFS at different cultural centers such as the Goethe-Institut Dhaka and the Alliance Française de Dhaka among others. WFMP's main objective is to introduce classic and contemporary films to film society members. The program is open for all.
DUFS recently organized the 130th edition of WFMP, WFMP on Remembering Agnès Varda at Alliance Française de Dhaka on 22–13 July 2019. 4 films by the french new wave filmmaker were screened.
La Pointe Courte,
Cleo from 5 to 7,
Le Bonheur,
Vegabond
The program was started as a "viewer's forum" in June 1998 at the Goethe-Institute Dhaka. The first session was open to everyone. In the next two years, fourteen more sessions were held in different cultural centers in Dhaka. After various sessions, the initiative was renamed as World Film Manifestation Program.
The first 1st WFMP session was held in September 2000 at the Goethe-Institute Dhaka.

''Flashback''

Flashback is the official publication of DUFS. It is published annually for more than fourteen years. The publication is about specific topics in the film industry. The latest issue of flashback on East European Films was published in July 2019. Flashback: Independent Film was published in November 2018. Some issues of the publication included articles about films from Latin America and those from the Far East. One Flashback was centered around Rabindranath Tagore in remembrance of his 150th birth anniversary.

Study circle

The study circle is a weekly program for members moderated by the study circle secretary. The circle discusses a pre-selected topic relevant to films. Study circles are moderated by an expert facilitator on the selected topic. The study circle sessions are open for all.

Others

DUFS regularly organizes film workshops, film orientation courses, and film appreciation courses. The 7th film workshop organized by DUFS was held on 25 July to 9 August. Two short films were produced through the workshop. Film Orientation Courses are designed towards enabling the new members to learn basic knowledge about film viewing and making. Appreciation courses are designed to guide the standard film viewer towards a more insightful understanding of cinema.
DUFS has a library for its members. The library has a rich collection of books on cinema. Members can books and newspapers at the DUFS room.
Besides all these, DUFS organizes a number of film screening sessions throughout the year, often in collaboration with other film societies and cultural centers. "Sunday German-Bangla Film Screening" is held every last Sunday of each month, where one German and one Bengali movie is shown at the Goethe Institute.

Festivals

Dhaka University Film Society organized more than thirty major film festivals so far. It has been playing an active as a cultural organization at the university and the country as well.
Amar Vashar Cholochitro is an annual film festival organized by DUFS at the TSC complex. The festival is held every February month in remembrance of the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement. DUFS organized the 18th edition of the Festival, 'Amar Vashar Cholochhitro 1425' on February 10–15, 2019. The Festival was first held in 2004. It is now recognized as the biggest film festival in the Bengali language.
International Inter-University Short Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by DUFS. It has been running for over a decade with the slogan "Take your camera, frame your dream". Its goal is to create a cross-cultural platform for university-going filmmakers all over the world. DUFS has recently organized the 11th edition of IIUSFF, in association with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 1401 short films from more than 90 countries were submitted. Since 10th IIUSFF a new category, 'Short films on refugee' has been introduced to address the refugee crisis around the globe.
'Short film festival on cultural diversity and peace' was introduced in 2019. DUFS and Actionaid Bangladesh jointly organized the event to promote cultural diversity and peace.
Film for Freshers is the yearly film screening for the university freshers. It is open to all freshers. Boichitre Jibon is jointly organized by Dhaka University Film Society and National Disabled Forum, in association with Sightsavers in 2010 and 2013.
The major festivals organized by DUFS at the TSC auditorium, Shawkat Osman Memorial Auditorium and at different cultural centers in Dhaka are as follows.
YearNameDateVenueNumber of Film ScreeningTypes of Film
1994First National Film FestivalShawkat Osman memorial auditorium, Public libraryBangladeshi cinema
1996Bangladesh PanoramaShawkat Osman memorial auditorium, Public libraryBangladeshi cinema
1998Science Fiction Film WeekShawkat Osman memorial auditorium, Public libraryScience fiction film
1998HELP: the Flood VictimsShawkat Osman memorial auditorium, Public libraryVarious films to help flood victims
1999War Film WeekShawkat Osman memorial auditorium, Public libraryWar film
1999Oscar Film WeekShawkat Osman memorial auditorium, Public libraryOscar-winning films
2000Film for FreshersTSC auditorium6Various films for freshers of Dhaka University
2000Comedy Film Week1–7 OctoberShawkat Osman memorial auditorium25Classic and modern comedy films
2001Film for FreshersTSC auditoriumVarious films for freshers of Dhaka University
2002Week on Film ClassicsShawkat Osman memorial auditoriumClassic films from all over the world
2002ভাষা আন্দোলনের ৫০ বছরঃ চলচ্চিত্রে বাংলার মুখ TSC auditorium15Bangladeshi cinema
2003Film for FreshersTSC auditoriumVarious films for freshers of Dhaka University
2003সত্যজিতের চলচ্চিত্র TSC auditorium21Film of Satyajit
2004বাংলা চলচ্চিত্র উৎসব 11–18 MayTSC auditorium28Bengali films from both Bangladesh and India
2005বাংলার ছবি TSC auditoriumBangladeshi cinema
2005Film for FreshersTSC auditoriumVarious films for freshers of Dhaka University
2005Animation Film Festival28 November–2 DecemberTSC auditoriumAnimation film
200650 years of Bangladeshi FilmTSC auditoriumBangladeshi cinema
2006Film for FreshersTSC auditoriumVarious films for freshers of Dhaka University
2007আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র 24–28 FebruaryTSC auditorium20Bengali film from both Bangladesh and India
2007ক্যামেরা যখন রাইফেল TSC auditorium
2007অপরাজিত
2007International Inter-University Short Film Festival Goethe Institute DhakaInternational short film competition for university students.
2008আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র 22–28 FebruaryTSC auditorium28Bengali film from both Bangladesh and West Bengal
2008Film for Freshers18–21 AugustTSC auditorium12Various films for freshers of Dhaka University
20082nd International Inter-University Short Film Festival 21–23 AprilGoethe Institute DhakaInternational short film competition for university students.
2009আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র 13–18 FebruaryTSC auditorium24Bengali film from both Bangladesh and West Bengal
2009Film for Freshers5–7 MayTSC auditorium12Various films for freshers of Dhaka University
20093rd International Inter-University Short Film Festival 25–26 MayGoethe Institute DhakaInternational short film competition for university students.
2009Disaster Risk Reduction Film Festival Public Library auditoriumDisaster related films
2010আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র-১৪১৬ 22–28 FebruaryTSC auditoriumBengali film from both Bangladesh and West Bengal
20104th International Inter-University Short Film Festival 24–28 AprilTSC auditorium and Goethe Institute DhakaInternational short film competition for university students.
2010বৈচিত্র্যে জীবন 4–8 DecemberTSC auditorium34First national disability related film festival
2011আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র-১৪১৭ 24–28 FebruaryTSC auditorium20Bengali film from both Bangladesh and West Bengal
2011ছায়াচিত্রে রবীন্দ্রনাথ TSC auditoriumFilms based on Rabindranath Tagore works
20115th International Inter-University Short Film Festival 15–19 MayGoethe Institute DhakaInternational short film competition for university students.
2012আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র-১৪১৮ 23–28 FebruaryTSC auditorium19Bengali film from both Bangladesh and West Bengal
2012চলচ্চিত্রে হুমায়ুন আহমেদ 24–26 SeptemberTSC auditorium9In remembrance of late novelist and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed
2013আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র-১৪১৯ 23–28 FebruaryTSC auditorium23Bengali film from both Bangladesh West Bengal
2013Film for Freshers19–22 MayTSC auditorium12Various films for freshers of Dhaka University freshers.
20136th International Inter-University Short Film Festival Goethe Institute DhakaInternational short film competition for university students.
2013বৈচিত্র্যে জীবন 9–11 DecemberTSC auditorium12Second national disability related film festival
2014আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র-১৪২০ 22–27 FebruaryTSC auditorium24Bengali film from both Bangladesh and West Bengal
2014Animation Film Festival3–9 NovemberTSC auditorium18Animation film
20157th International Inter-University Short Film Festival 26–28 JanuaryTSC auditorium45International short film competition for university students.
2015আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র-১৪২১ 23–28 FebruaryTSC auditorium24Bengali film from both Bangladesh and West Bengal
2015Film for Freshers17-18 AugustTSC auditorium9Various films for freshers of Dhaka University freshers.
20168th International Inter-University Short Film Festival TSC auditorium
Alliance Française de Dhaka
Alliance Française de Chittagong		International short film competition for university students.
20166th Film Workshop 201621 July- 5 August
2017আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র-১৪২২ 10-14 FebruaryTSC auditorium20Bengali film from both Bangladesh West and Bengal
2017Animation Film Festival 201720-23 MarchTSC auditorium15Animation Films from all over the world
2017Film Orientation Course 2017Munir Chowdhury Auditorium, TSC
20179th International Inter-University Short Film Festival 11 August -14 SeptemberTSC auditorium
Alliance Française de Dhaka
Star Cineplex Dhaka		90International short film competition for university students.
2018আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র-১৪২৪ 12-17 FebruaryTSC Auditorium20Bengali film from both Bangladesh and West Bengal
201810th International Inter-University Short Film Festival02-04 SeptemberTSC auditorium
Alliance Française de Dhaka
Goethe Institut Bangladesh		200International short film competition for university students.
2018Film Appreciation Course 201810 October-13 OctoberShaheed Munier Chowdhury Seminar Room
2018Human Rights Short Film Festival08-9 DecemberBangladesh Shishu Academy Complex60The theme of this film festival is “Finding Bangladesh and South Asia in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 70 years later”.
2019আমার ভাষার চলচ্চিত্র-১৪২৫ 10-14 FebruaryTSC auditorium17Bengali film from both Bangladesh West and Bengal
201911th International Inter-University Short Film Festival29-31 JulyTSC auditorium
Alliance Française de Dhaka
Goethe Institut Bangladesh		200International short film competition for university students.
20197th Film Workshop25 July- 9 AugustCARASS Auditorium
2019Short Film Festival on Cultural Diversity and Peace08-9 SeptemberTSC auditorium50Short film festival to promote cultural diversity and peace.

Membership

New members are admitted in the society in April each year. Only fresher students of Dhaka University are eligible to apply for membership. After an initial screening process, viva-voce is held to select the few successful candidates for admission. At present, there are 227 members of whom thirty-three are executive members and others are general members. The current president is Ferdous Khan Nirjhar; the general secretary is BM Jabal-E-Rahamaat.

Notable alumni