British-Bangladeshi writer, director, actor and playwright, Leesa Gazi has dedicated her career to presenting powerful stories told from a woman's perspective via theatre and film. Her documentary film, "Rising Silence", memorialising accounts of Birangona women of the 1971 Liberation War, won several accolades across the world, including Best Feature Documentary at Moondance International Film Festival (USA), Asian Media Award for Best Investigation 2019 (UK), Best Feature Documentary at the PSVI Film Competition by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UK. Since 2017, Gazi started working with Global Survivors Network, SEMA, established by Nobel Laureate Dr Denis Mukegwege's Foundation. The first-ever International public address by two Birangona women of Bangladesh, Anoara Begum and Jabeda Khatun, was made possible by Gazi's efforts. Begum and Khatun joined fellow survivors in an international call at the Hague in 2018 for global reparations schemes to address the consequences of rape as a weapon of war. Gazi is currently working on the Collective Memory Group at SEMA. Recently, she spoke to The Daily Star about her upcoming film, “Baarir Naam Shahana - A House Named Shahana”, and more.

Today marks the birthday of Purnima, who  started her film career in 1998, with director Zakir Hossain Raju’s “E Jibon Tomar Amar.” Since then, she has gone from strength to strength, mesmerising audiences with her versatility on the silver screen. The National Film Award-winning artiste gave a standout performance as the protagonist in Chashi Nazrul Islam’s “Shubha”, opposite Shakib Khan. The film is based on a story by Rabindranath Tagore.

The team of 'Rehana Maryam Noor' walked the red carpet at the 74th Cannes Film Festival yesterday. The Abdullah Mohammad Saad directorial is the first Bangladeshi film in history to be officially selected for the Cannes Festival, in the Un Certain Regard section. The film is rightfully receiving one honour after another from the appreciative Cannes audience.

Film Valley, one of the largest private film cities in the country, was inaugurated recently. Located in Dhamrai, Savar, this shooting location extends on three and a half acres of land. It is built in honour of showbiz legends loved by audiences in Bangladesh.

Film Valley, one of the largest private film cities in the country, was inaugurated recently. Located in Dhamrai, Savar, this shooting location extends on three and a half acres of land. It is built in honour of showbiz legends loved by audiences in Bangladesh.

In compliance with the rules for the seven-day lockdown, no shooting will be allowed at the premises of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), starting from tomorrow, July 1.

Superstar Shakib Khan's film, “Nabab LLB”, is releasing today in 16 cinema halls across the country. The film was released on the OTT platform, iTheater, on December 16, last year.

Director and writer Ariq Anam Khan's short film, “Transit”, will be screened at the Oscar-qualifying fest, Los Angeles (LA) Shorts, next month. The event, one of the largest international short film festivals in the world with more than 300 film screenings annually, is scheduled to run for the entire month of July.

Celebrating Bangladesh’s 50 years of independence, the European Union (EU) launched the first Bangladesh EU Film Festival (BEUFF). It was inaugurated on the 9th of June and will continue till the end of the month. The festival illustrates the cultural interchange between EU and Bangladesh. The eight Bangladeshi films being exhibited at BEUFF are by young, talented filmmakers. All 23 films are available free of cost throughout the festival to all audiences residing in Bangladesh.

Popular actor Shobnom Bubly will be appearing as a police officer in her upcoming film “Revenge”. The film, directed by Md Iqbal, features Shakib Khan opposite her.

Today marks the birthday of noted actor Shabana, who stepped into the world of cinema in the 60s. She last appeared in the 1997 film, “Ghore Ghore Juddho”. In 2000, she permanently settled in the USA. She has been out of the limelight for over two decades.

Buddhadeb Dasgupta is one of the brightest names in Bengali cinema today. Winner of multiple national and international awards for films like “Bagh Bahadur”, “Tahader Kotha”, “Charachar”, “Uttara” and “Kalpurush”, he is also a highly-regarded poet. The director spoke to The Daily Star during a recent visit to Dhaka.

Popular actor Siam Ahmed signed a new film, “Ontorjaal”, directed by Dipankar Dipon. The film is being called the first cyber-crime thriller in Bangladesh. With the initiative of the ICT Division, the movie is produced under the banner of Motion People Studios.

Noted Bengali filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta passed away in his Kolkata residence earlier today. He was 77. He was suffering from kidney-related issues.

Today marks the birthday of National Film Award-winning actor, Nipun. She has been showered with wishes from fans and colleagues since morning. On her birthday, Nipun distributed food packages to 200 underprivileged kids.

Nuhash Humayun’s upcoming debut feature “Moving Bangladesh” has been selected for Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes. The business counterpart to the Cannes Film Festival, Marché du Film, is the world’s biggest film market.

Recently, he announced that he will be taking a remuneration of only one taka for the film. “Bangabandhu gifted us our country and our flag,” Arifin Shuvoo told The Daily Star. “What more can a child expect from a father? He has given us his everything. I don’t want a big remuneration for portraying him.”

Information and Broadcasting Ministry published new policies on their website on May 31, stating that without the government’s permission, shooting in foreign countries will be prohibited from now on. According to the policies, participation of foreign actors, crew members, and music experts in advertisements (2021), as well as usage of foreign shooting equipment by any Bangladeshi cast and crew members must be approved by the government of Bangladesh.

Director Abdullah Mohammad Saad's film “Rehana Maryam Noor” has been selected under Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section, which honours films that tell non-traditional stories. This makes it the first Bangladeshi film to be officially selected for the prestigious festival.

With theatrical releases being tough for the last few months, producers took a step back when it comes to releasing new films in this pandemic. While shooting took new turns in adapting to the ‘new normal’, audiences have also been apprehensive of visiting cinema halls. Nevertheless, shooting for new projects has begun.