DHAKA (BANGLADESH), Jan 17: The 2nd international conference on 'Women in Cinema', which was organized by Rainbow Film Society at Alliance Française de Dhaka as a part of the ongoing 14th Dhaka International Film Festival to improve the standard and content of women-centric films, concluded on Saturday.
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The manifesto issued by the conference encourages women filmmakers to work and overcome the challenges of the industry together. It also aims at promoting women-centric films, supporting films by women filmmakers, and unifying women filmmakers from all over the world.
The two-day conference, which saw the participation of women filmmakers, journalists, and actors from different countries including Nepal, Turkey, France, Afghanistan, Poland, Germany, Italy, Iran, and Australia, also held discussions, trainings, workshops and film screenings related to women's participation in cinema. Some of the topics of the discussions were 'Woman filmmaker as a storyteller', 'Attributes of narrative in women cinema', and 'Women and filmmaking in Eastern Central Europe and the Balkan countries.'Festival Director Ahmed Mujtaba Jamal said, "We started holding this conference since last year with the motive of encouraging more participation of women filmmakers in the festival. This year our special focus was on promoting young women in cinema."
Conference Coordinator Ishrat Khan Barsha remarked that the manifesto encourages cooperation between women filmmakers from all over the world through the medium of cinema. "It also promotes study, research, opportunities, and analysis of women-centric films," she said.
Speakers at the conference also noted the fact that objectification of women has become a major trend in mainstream cinema in most parts of the world. They also accredited independent filmmakers for highlighting women's ability to advance social changes instead of using them to up the glam quotient in films.
The conference was inaugurated by Bangladesh's state minister for women and children affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, who urged filmmakers to highlight experiences that woman have to endure in their everyday life.
