Abbreviation DUFS | Legal status Registered | |
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Motto Better Films, Better Viewers Formation 15 July 1991; 25 years ago (1991-07-15) Type Voluntary Students' Organization Purpose Entertainment, film movement, film screening | ||
Dhaka University Film Society, also known as DUFS (Bengali: ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় চলচ্চিত্র সংসদ), is a voluntary student organization of the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. DUFS is an active member of the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies (BFFS) and is a Teacher-Student Centre-based students' organization.
Contents
- Activities
- World Film Manifestation Program
- Flashback
- Study circle
- Festivals
- Membership
- Notable alumni
- References
Professor Dr. Mohammad Touhidul Anwar was the first club moderator. The current moderator of the Society is AAMS Arefin Siddique, present vice chancellor of the university.
Activities
The Dhaka University Film Society participates in a number of activities every year in addition to the festivals and publications they host.
World Film Manifestation Program
World Film Manifestation Program, commonly known as WFMP, is a monthly film screening by DUFS at different cultural centres such as the Goethe-Institute Dhaka and the Alliance Française de Dhaka among others. Its main objective is to introduce classic and contemporary films to its members, and is open to all students.
It was started as a "viewer's forum" in June, 1998 at the Goethe-Institute Dhaka. The first session was open to everyone. In the next two years, fourteen more sessions were held in different cultural centers in Dhaka. After various sessions, the initiative was renamed as World Film Manifestation Program (WFMP).
The first 1st WFMP session was held in September, 2000 at the Goethe-Institute Dhaka.
Flashback
Flashback is the official publication of the society. It was published biannually for more than fourteen years. The publication is about specific topics in the film industry. Some issues included articles about films from Latin America and those from the Far East. One Flashback was centred around Rabindranath Tagore in remembrance of his 150th birth anniversary.
Study circle
Study circle is a weekly program for members moderated by the study circle editor. The circle discusses a pre-selected topic. DUFS members can read books and newspapers at the DUFS room. Members can take issued books home for reading.
The Orientation Courses are for new members to learn basic knowledge about film viewing and making. DUFS sessions are often in collaboration with other film societies and cultural centres. Sundays are "German-Bengali Movie Night", where one German and one Bengali movie is shown at the Goethe Institute
Festivals
Dhaka University Film Society organized more than twenty-five major film festivals. It is a major cultural organization at the university and the country as well.
Amar Vashar Cholochitro (Films in my language) is a yearly film festival in February organized by DUFS in memory of the Bengali Language Movement. The Festival first held in 2004.
International Inter-University Short Film Festival is another yearly film festival. It is arranged in collaboration with the Goethe Institute of Dhaka.
Film for Freshers is the yearly film screening for the university freshers. It is open to all freshers. Boichitre Jibon (Diversity is Life) is jointly organized by Dhaka University Film Society and National Disabled Forum, in association with Sightsavers in 2010 and 2013.
The major festivals organized by DUFS at the TSC auditorium, Shawkat Osman Memorial Auditorium and at different cultural centers in Dhaka are as follows.
Membership
New members are admitted in the society in April each year. Only fresher students of Dhaka University are eligible to apply for membership. After an initial screening process, viva-voce (oral interview) is held to select the few successful (around forty) candidates for admission. At present there are 227 members of whom thirty three are executive members and others are general members. The current president is S. M. Arif Rayhan Shovon; the general secretary is Dilwar Hossain.