Humayun Faridi honoured posthumously at his alma mater

The first edition of the Jahangirnagar Film Festival closed with a tribute rooted in memory and legacy, as legendary artiste Humayun Faridi was posthumously honoured at the university where his artistic journey began.

Held from April 14 to 16 at Jahangirnagar University, the three-day festival was organised by the campus-based cultural collective Bangla Theatre. The event combined screenings, discussions, and masterclasses, positioning itself as a new platform for independent cinema in Bangladesh.

At the Zahir Raihan Auditorium, organisers presented 18 special honours. Faridi—an alumnus of the university’s drama movement—was recognised for his enduring contribution to Bangladeshi theatre and film. His early engagement with campus theatre practices helped shape a career that later defined character acting in the country.

Other recipients of special honours included Shahiduzzaman Selim, Abu Rizwan Eureka, Ainun, Nahar Putul, and Abanti Sithi.

In the feature film category, awards went to “Saatao” directed by Khandaker Suman, “Djinner Bachcha” by Mostafizur Noor Imran, and “Kajolrekha” by Giasuddin Selim—all recent entries in Bangladesh’s evolving independent and mainstream cinema landscape.

Short film honours were awarded to “Song from the South” by Ahmed Hasan Sunny, “The Eternal Journey” by Fazle Rabbi, and “The Ballad of a Geek” by Debashis Das.

The Jahangirnagar Edition segment recognised emerging voices, awarding “Intezar: Prothom Prohor” by Manzur Al Hasan and Nabil Mostafa, “Half to Infinity” by Sajjadul Shuvo, and “The Haze” by Nasir Khandaker.

Among individual recognitions, Aniruddha Hridoy, Tanvir Apu, and Golam Faruk Joy were named emerging stars, while Mehrab Sifat received the award for best organiser.

The festival opened on April 14 in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan. The opening day featured a direction masterclass led by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, alongside a production session conducted by Mohammad Touqir Islam and the team behind “Delupi”.

The second day centred on screenings, with nine films—including three features and six shorts—followed by interactive Q&A sessions between filmmakers and audiences.

On the final day, Mostafizur Noor Imran conducted an acting masterclass. A special session titled “Our Stories” featured the team behind “Bonolota Express”, reflecting on creative processes and production challenges.

Framed under the theme “Bangladesh’s melody: soil and people”, the festival underscored the need for sustained platforms for independent filmmakers and emerging talent.