State Minister for Information Tarana Halim today said more women participation in cinemas would contribute to making a world respectful towards women and their rights as equal as male.
“Women should be not only silent spectators. They will act, make and direct films, write scripts to transform the world into a better one”, she said while speaking as the chief guest at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka in the city’s Dhanmondi area.
Fourth Dhaka International Conference on ‘Women in Cinema’ began this morning in the city, with strong voice for women in films.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam chaired the inaugural ceremony of the two-day conference, was attended, among others, by US writer-educator Sydney Levine and famed filmmaker Alin Tasciyan from Turkey as speakers.
Tarana described women as ‘symbol of affection, love, strength and passion’.
The state minister for information who herself has a vibrant career as a prime artist in film and TV drama, said, ‘When tormented, real women will always speak up, regain herself and come back even stronger than ever. And that is what I am, and you are.’
Shahriar Alam assured that Dhaka is ready to boost women participation in film industry.
Six sessions of the conference will discuss six topics, including ‘How to sustain gender equality in cinema’, ‘Women in avant-garde cinema’ and ‘Perception of South Asian Women by Western Women through Cinema’.
Tajik filmmaker Dr Sharofat M Arabova, Indian directors Aparajita Ghosh and Dr. Debjani Halder, Iranian researcher Nazanin Kaynejad, among other eminent cinema experts will present keynote papers at the sessions.
Women in Cinema’ conference is a part of the 16th Dhaka International Film Festival screening 216 movies of 64 countries from 12 to 20 January.
Organiser Rainbow Film Society has taken National Museum, Central Public Library, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, Russian Cultural Centre and Star Cineplex as venues.
