Brazilian short ‘Dream Eater' wins Best Film in GYFFB 2023

The Brazilian short film, "Dream Eaters" directed by Mike da Silva Wanderroscky, claimed the award for the Best Film of the Festival, at the 6th edition of the "Global Youth Film Festival Bangladesh 2023" (GYFFB). 

Organised by Cinema Bangladesh, the traveling film festival reached Cox's Bazar this time with the unique idea of screening the films by the seaside. The festival began on March 3 at the Laboni Beach Point, Cox's Bazar and concluded on March 5, at the Public Library Auditorium of Cox's Bazar.

This time, the three-day-long programme, accepted 1475 films from 102 countries around the globe. The festival honoured the best films in 9 categories, including; Best Of The Fest, Best International Short, Best International Director, Best Animation, Best Documentary, Hiralal Sen Memorial Best Bangladeshi Film, Tareque Masud Memorial Best Bangladeshi Director, Best Bangladeshi Actor, and Script Grant.

Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Honorable Minister of the Ministry of Industries was present as the chief guest of the event.

Moreover, Ms. Sheela Pillai, Head of Mission, The Consulate of the Republic of Singapore, Eminent filmmaker Morshedul Islam, Singapore based Producer Jeremy Chua, Singapore based Distributor Sreyashii Sengupta, Bangladeshi actress Azmeri Haque Badhon, Member Secretary of the festival's organizing committee Rokeya Prachy, Festival Coordinator Asma Akhter Liza, and Festival Director Jisan Mahadi, amongst others also attended the concluding ceremony.

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Here is the list of awardees honoured at the event:

1. Best of the Fest:

"Dream Eaters" by Mike da Silva Wanderroscky

Country: Brazil

2. Best International Short Film:

"The Rustle of the First Summer Rain" by Doğukan Tatar

Country: Turkey

3. Best International Director:

Jiang Dong ("The Elevator")

Country: France

4. Best Animation Film:

"Dream Eaters" by Mike da Silva Wanderroscky

Country: Brazil

5. Best Documentary Film:

 Ruchama Ehrenhalt ("Brown White")

Country: Israel

6. Hiralal Sen Memorial Best Bangladeshi Film:

 Al Hasib Khan Ananda ("Breathing is a Gift")

7. Tareque Masud Memorial Best Bangladeshi Director:

Abir Ferdous Mukhar ("Shubroto Sengupto")

8. Best Bangladeshi Actor:

Rafayatullah Sohan  ("Life, Corona, & Some Pigeons")

9. Script Grant:

Ahsan Shoron ("Red Apple") 

Country: Bangladesh

The festival also handed out two Festival Mention awards claimed by Ivana Esposito's "Chance Change" and "The Epitaph" by Farhana Farha.  

Towards the end of the festival, the famed filmmaker Hemanta Sadeeq who also moderated the festival shared, "Our organization Cinema Bangladesh wants to create a movement all over the country through cinemas—the Global youth film festival Bangladesh is raising a flag here."

"The festival has become a platform to dream for all the young filmmakers of our country and the platform is getting stronger day by day," he continued. "These events are open to the public and provide a platform for aspiring filmmakers to connect with experienced professionals and learn from their experiences."

Finally, the event concluded with a short speech from the Festival Director of GYFF, Jisan Mahadi. He mentioned, "When a film society movement can be expanded to a marginalised area, where international festivals will be organised, the youth there will have the opportunity to get involved and get a chance to get to know the world. Which will also help them think outside of the box. And, from there, the youth may dream of making films, and building a community of film buffs."