Film festival bring Koreans and Bangadeshi together
Bangladeshi Ambassador to Korea Abida Islam, sixth right, joins a ribbon-cutting ceremony with other dignitaries on the opening day of the Bangladesh Film Festival at the Arirang Cine Center in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, July 20. / Embassy of Bangladesh
By Yi Whan-woo
Korean and Bangladeshi movie lovers sat together and watched the award-winning "Haldaa" and other Bangladeshi movies during the Bangladesh Film Festival that ended its three-day run in Seoul on July 22.
The festival at the Arirang Cine Center in Seongbuk-gu took place as Bangladesh steps up a campaign to promote the country as "a land with huge untapped potential."
The festival is expected to have served the country's goal of promotion faithfully, according to Bangladeshi Ambassador to Korea Abida Islam.
"She stated that the audience could easily connect themselves with the history, culture, life and social fabric of Bangladesh after viewing the films, as the challenges are common and universal in nature," the embassy said in a statement.
"It is expected that the film festival will further strengthen the bilateral cultural relationship between Bangladesh and the Republic of Korea."
Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Kim Ki-sun, chairman of the Bangladesh-South Korea Parliamentary Friendship Group, said there were many similarities in culture between the two countries.
Ambassadors of Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Zambia, embassy staff from Russia, Italy and Rwanda and officials from the Korean Culture Association, the Korea Importers' Association (KOIMA) and the Hana Multicultural Center participated.
Visitors look around Bangladeshi traditional handicrafts on the sidelines of the Bangladesh Film Festival at the Arirang Cine Center. / Embassy of Bangladesh
It was the third festival of its kind following the ones in February and July 2017.
It was organized in cooperation with the Korean Cultural Association and the Bangladesh Cultural Association in Korea and Seoul-based film distributor M&M International.
The festival featured four widely acclaimed and popular movies.
"Haldaa," winner of the eighth SAARC Film Festival, opened the festival.
Directed by Tauquir Ahmed, the movie is named after a river in southeastern Bangladesh, and tells of the struggles in fishermen's lives.
The three others were _ "Doob" (No bed of Roses), "Khacha" (The Cage) and "Swapnajaal."
Directors Giasuddin Selim ("Swapnajaal") and Akram Khan ("Khacha") gave guest talks.
All the films were subtitled in Korean and English.
Bangladeshi traditional handicrafts were on display at the screening venue.