"Every year we plan many things."
The Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) will expand to Cox’s Bazar in 2026, hosting open-air screenings for the first time.
Organisers announced that Laboni Beach Point will serve as the venue for free screenings from January 10 to 18, 2026.
The 24th edition of the festival, organised by Rainbow Film Society, will run simultaneously in Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar from January 10 to 18, 2026.
Festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal highlighted the persistent challenges faced by film festivals in Bangladesh, citing limited funding compared to other cultural events.
“Every year we plan many things, but budgetary constraints prevent us from achieving much of it.”
The festival’s slogan this year is “Nandanik Chalachitra, Mononshil Darshok, Alokito Shomaj” (Aesthetic films, discerning audience, enlightened society), reflecting its cultural mission.
A total of 245 films from 91 countries will be screened during the nine-day festival, spanning sections such as Asian Film Competition, Retrospective, and Cinema of the World.
Other segments include Bangladesh Panorama, Children’s Film Session, Women Filmmakers, Short and Independent Film, Spiritual Film, and Open-Air Bioscope screenings.
Dhaka screenings will be held across multiple venues, including the Bangladesh National Museum, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Alliance Française de Dhaka, and Stamford University Bangladesh.
The festival will officially open at the Bangladesh National Museum’s main auditorium on January 10 at 4 pm, with chief guest Syeda Rizwana Hasan in attendance.
The opening film will be Chinese director Chen Xiang’s Wu Jin Zhi Lu (The Journey to No End), accompanied by a cultural performance from the theatrical company O Jal Taranga.
Special guests include Croatian-UK filmmaker Aleksandra Markovic and Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, Li Xiaopeng, with Jalal Ahmed presiding over the ceremony.
The 12th Dhaka International Conference on Women in Cinema 2026 will take place at the Dhaka Club on January 11 and 12, 2026.
It will discuss professional barriers and opportunities for women filmmakers.
The conference will be inaugurated by Adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Sharmeen Soneya Murshid.
There will be participation from Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam and ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir.
From January 11 to 14, 2026,the “West Meets East Screenplay Lab” will mentor ten selected projects, culminating in pitches to producers, distributors, and OTT representatives at FilmHaat Marketplace.
Cash prizes of Tk 5 lakh, Tk 3 lakh, and Tk 2 lakh will be awarded for the top three screenplays during the lab, held at Vintage Convention Hall in Dhanmondi.
On January 17, 2026, the festival will host its fourth Masterclass featuring Swiss Cinebulletin editor Theresa Vena, Croatian filmmaker Aleksandra Markovic, and Bangladeshi filmmaker Liton Kor.
An art exhibition curated by Lutfa Mahmuda will run at the Bangladesh Military Museum’s 3D Art Gallery.
It will be held from January 9 to 17, 2026, highlighting intersections between cinema and visual art.
The festival will conclude on January 18, 2026, at the Bangladesh National Museum.
The Dhaka International Film Festival is supported by multiple government ministries, the Bangladesh Tourism Board, the Chinese Embassy, ActionAid, SMC, and several media partners.
This edition of DIFF marks a historic moment as Bangladesh’s largest international film festival brings cinema to the public.
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