Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF)

Overview

The Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) is Bangladesh's leading international film festival. The 24th edition was held January 10-18, 2026, in Dhaka, and the 25th edition is scheduled for January 9-17, 2027. The festival is organized by Rainbow Film Society, which has promoted a healthy cine culture in Bangladesh since 1977. The general theme is "Better Film, Better Audience, and Better Society."

DIFF selects approximately 250 films from thousands of submissions. The 24th edition (2026) screened films across multiple venues including the Bangladesh National Museum Main Auditorium, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, and Stamford University Bangladesh Auditorium. The festival features 22+ awards across its competitive sections.

The festival's Asian Film Competition is its lead section, with an international jury selecting Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Script, and Best Cinematographer. The 24th edition (2026) Best Film winner was Kurak, directed by Erke Dzhumakmatova and Emil Atageldiev of Kyrgyzstan. The festival also runs the West Meets East Screenplay Lab, selecting 10 finalists from across Asia for mentorship by international experts, with development funding of TK 500,000, TK 300,000, and TK 200,000 for the top three scripts.

DIFF is a non-premier festival in the sense that it does not require a world or international premiere, but it does require Bangladesh festival premiere status. No film previously screened at another festival within Bangladesh is eligible. The festival does not charge entry or submission fees, and it does not pay screening fees to selected filmmakers.

Submission Process and Fees

DIFF accepts open submissions with no entry fee. The 25th edition (2027) opens submissions from June 1 to September 30, 2026.

Key regulations:

1. No entry or screening fees: DIFF does not charge submission fees. It also does not pay screening fees to filmmakers.

1. Bangladesh festival premiere required: Films previously screened at any other festival within Bangladesh are ineligible.

1. Production year: Priority goes to films produced in the most recent calendar year. Exceptions may be made for films completed in the preceding year, at the committee's discretion.

1. Category limitation: Each film may be submitted to one category only. A filmmaker cannot have multiple films selected in the same category. Multiple submissions are allowed if each film is in a different category.

1. No resubmission: Films previously submitted (whether accepted or rejected) cannot be resubmitted in any subsequent edition.

1. Censorship: No film will be screened without a Screening Certificate from the Bangladesh Film Censorship Board. All selected films are reviewed by a Special Preview Committee for content including nudity, obscenity, sexually explicit material, disrespect to religion, or content that may harm Bangladesh's international relations. The festival may implement cuts or blurring per Board guidance.

1. Technical format: Screenings take place at non-theatrical auditoriums equipped for MP4 (HD) playback only. DCP format is not supported. All selected films must be submitted in high-resolution MP4 format with hardcoded English subtitles or a separate SRT file. The final screening copy must be provided via a downloadable email link.

1. Withdrawal policy: Once a film is officially selected, it cannot be withdrawn under any circumstances. Violations of festival rules may result in legal action by the organizing committee.

Submission link: dhakafilmfestival.org/film-submission

West Meets East Screenplay Lab: A separate submission process for the 4th edition of the screenplay lab, open to filmmakers across Asia. The lab selects 10 finalists for mentorship by international experts during the festival. Top three scripts receive TK 500,000, TK 300,000, and TK 200,000 respectively. The 2026 lab submission deadline was July 31, 2025. Coordinated by filmmaker Aka Reza Ghalib and critic-screenwriter Sadia Khalid Reeti.

Key Sections

• Asian Film Competition - Fiction films from Asia, minimum 70 minutes, production year 2026 (2025 in special cases). International jury adjudicates. Awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Script, and Best Cinematographer.
• Women Filmmakers Section - Full-length features, short films, and documentaries by female filmmakers. Minimum 55 minutes for features, maximum 30 minutes for shorts. Independent jury of female filmmakers, cultural experts, and professionals. Three prizes: Best Documentary, Best Fiction Film, Best Director.
• Retrospective - Programs dedicated to major filmmakers
• Tribute - Honoring significant cinema figures
• Wide Angle - Broad international selection
• Bangladesh Panorama - New Bangladeshi films
• Cinema of the World - International films outside competition
• Children Films Section - Films for younger audiences
• Short and Independent Films Section - Short and independent works
• Spiritual Films Section - Films on spiritual themes
• West Meets East Screenplay Lab - Development lab for Asian screenwriters with funding prizes
• Women in Cinema Conference - Annual conference on women in film

Awards and Prizes

The 24th edition (2026) awarded 22+ prizes across categories:

Asian Film Competition:

• Best Film - Kurak directed by Erke Dzhumakmatova and Emil Atageldiev (Kyrgyzstan)
• Best Director - Emin Afandiyev for Tanha Insanin Monologue (A Lonely Person's Monologue) (Azerbaijan)
• Best Actor - Abel (Kazakhstan)
• Best Actress - Fariba Naderi for Shohar-E Setareh (The Husband) (Iran)
• Best Script - OT (Burning)
• Best Cinematography - Artyom Anisimov for Podelniki (The Riot) directed by Evgeny Grigorev (Russia)

Women Filmmakers Section:

• Best Documentary Film - Little Syria by Madalina Rosca and Reem Karssli
• Best Fiction Film - Chistyy list (From Scratch) by Polina Kondrateva
• Best Director - Aizada Bekbalaeva for Zhetinchy Ai (The Seventh Month)

FIPRESCI Prize - Awarded by the International Federation of Film Critics in respective categories

All awards consist of a crest and certificate. No cash prizes are listed for the film competition categories. The West Meets East Screenplay Lab provides development funding: TK 500,000 (first), TK 300,000 (second), and TK 200,000 (third).

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Asian filmmakers: The Asian Film Competition is DIFF's lead section. Films must be fiction features of 70+ minutes, produced in 2026 (or 2025 in special cases). Submission is free. The Bangladesh festival premiere requirement means your film must not have screened at any other Bangladeshi festival. The festival screens in non-theatrical auditoriums with MP4 (HD) playback only, so DCP is not accepted. Prepare your screening copy as a high-resolution MP4 file with English subtitles (hardcoded or separate SRT).

For women filmmakers: The Women Filmmakers Section accepts features (55+ minutes), shorts (maximum 30 minutes), and documentaries by female directors. Three prizes are awarded by an independent all-female jury. The 2026 jury included Aleksandra Markovic (Croatia/UK), Ronak Taher (Iran/Australia), and Afsana Mimi (Bangladesh). This section is one of the few at an Asian festival with a dedicated competition for women filmmakers with international jury representation.

For Bangladeshi filmmakers: DIFF is the most important domestic international platform. The Bangladesh Panorama section provides a dedicated platform for national cinema. The festival's connection to South Asian broadcasters and distributors provides market access. The West Meets East Screenplay Lab offers development funding for Bangladeshi and Asian screenwriters.

For international filmmakers: The Cinema of the World section accepts international films outside competition. The festival does not charge submission fees, which is unusual for a festival of this scale. However, the censorship requirement is significant: all films must pass the Bangladesh Film Censorship Board, which reviews content for nudity, sexually explicit material, LGBTQ+ themes, religious disrespect, and content affecting international relations. Films may be subject to cuts or blurring. Consider this carefully before submitting.

Technical delivery note: DCP is not supported. All films must be delivered as high-resolution MP4 files. This is a hard requirement and cannot be negotiated with festival authorities after submission.

Festival History

DIFF was founded in 1992 by Rainbow Film Society, which has been dedicated to promoting a healthy cine culture in Bangladesh since 1977. The festival was initially biennial but has since become an annual event. The 24th edition was held in January 2026 and the 25th is scheduled for January 2027.

Rainbow Film Society's founding motto is "Aesthetic cinema, thoughtful audiences, enlightened society." The festival has grown from a small national event to a significant Asian festival screening 250 films from dozens of countries. The West Meets East Screenplay Lab was added as a development initiative, now in its 4th edition, providing mentorship and funding to Asian screenwriters.

The 2026 edition included the annual Women in Cinema conference, screenings, discussions, and cultural programming. The festival operates across four main venues in Dhaka: Bangladesh National Museum (Sufia Kamal Auditorium, Shahbagh), Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (National Art Gallery Auditorium), Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, and Stamford University Bangladesh Auditorium (Siddeswari Road).

Practical Information

• 2027 dates (25th edition): January 9-17, 2027
• 2026 dates (24th edition): January 10-18, 2026
• Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Venues: Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, Stamford University Bangladesh
• Submission period (25th edition): June 1 - September 30, 2026
• Submission fee: Free (no entry fee)
• Screening fee: Not paid to filmmakers
• Premiere requirement: Bangladesh festival premiere (no prior Bangladeshi festival screenings)
• Technical format: MP4 (HD) only. DCP not supported.
• Subtitles: Hardcoded English subtitles or separate SRT file
• Censorship: Bangladesh Film Censorship Board Screening Certificate required
• Films selected: Approximately 250 from thousands of submissions
• Awards: 22+ across all categories
• Screenplay lab funding: TK 500,000 / TK 300,000 / TK 200,000 (top 3 scripts)
• Organizer: Rainbow Film Society (since 1977)
• Official website: dhakafilmfestival.org
• Submission link: dhakafilmfestival.org/film-submission

Past Winners

The Dhaka International Film Festival has run for 24 editions, with recent editions awarding 22 or more prizes across multiple competitive sections. The Asian Film Competition is the festival's lead section.

24th Edition (2026) Winners

The 24th edition was held January 10 to 18, 2026, screening 245 films from 91 countries, including 44 films from Bangladesh. The closing ceremony took place at the Bangladesh National Museum.

Asian Film Competition:

• Best Film - "Kurak" directed by Erke Dzhumakmatova and Emil Atageldiev (Kyrgyzstan). The film had its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in September 2025, where it won the Bangladesh July Memorial Prize and the Vision of Jiseok Award. Director Erke Dzhumakmatova was present at the Dhaka ceremony to receive the award, stating: "Finally, I am receiving the award for my film. I would really like to thank the festival juries and all the cast and crew members. We have put a lot of heart and soul into this project." The film is based on true events and interweaves several stories of violence against women in modern Kyrgyzstan's patriarchal society.
• Best Director - Emin Afandiyev for "Tanha Insanin Monologue" (A Lonely Person's Monologue) (Azerbaijan)
• Best Actor - Yerlan Tuleutay for his performance in "Abel" (Kazakhstan), directed by Elzat Eskendir
• Best Actress - Fariba Naderi for "Shohar-E Setareh" (The Husband) (Iran), directed by Ebrahim Irajzad
• Best Script - "OT" (Burning) by Dastan Madalbekov and Aizada Bekbalaeva (Kyrgyzstan)
• Best Cinematography - Jolanta Dylewska for "Abel" directed by Elzat Eskendir

Women Filmmakers Section:

• Best Documentary Film - "Little Syria" by Madalina Rosca and Reem Karssli
• Best Fiction Film - "Chistyy list" (From Scratch) by Polina Kondrateva
• Best Director - Aizada Bekbalaeva for "Zhetinchy Ai" (The Seventh Month). The 2026 Women Filmmakers jury included Aleksandra Markovic (Croatia/UK), Ronak Taher (Iran/Australia), and Afsana Mimi (Bangladesh).

FIPRESCI Prize - Awarded by the International Federation of Film Critics in respective categories.

22nd Edition (2024) Winners

• Best Film (Asian Film Competition) - "The Cord of Life" directed by Qiao Sixue (China). The closing ceremony was attended by State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammed Ali Arafat, with globally acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi and Indian-Bengali actress Sharmila Tagore as notable guests. The 22nd edition featured 252 films from 71 countries.

Notable Alumni Films

The Dhaka International Film Festival has served as a significant platform for Asian cinema, with several winning films going on to broader international recognition:

• "Kurak" (Erke Dzhumakmatova and Emil Atageldiev, Kyrgyzstan, 2025) - Won Best Film at the 24th DIFF after winning the Bangladesh July Memorial Prize and Vision of Jiseok Award at Busan. The film is a multi-country co-production (Kyrgyzstan, Switzerland, Serbia, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy) based on true events about violence against women in Kyrgyzstan. Its sweep of major Asian festival prizes in 2025 to 2026 made it one of the most recognized Asian films of the period.

• "The Cord of Life" (Qiao Sixue, China, 2024) - Won Best Film at the 22nd DIFF. The Chinese film was among the 252 films screened from 71 countries at that edition.

• "The Seventh Month" (Aizada Bekbalaeva, Kyrgyzstan, 2026) - Won Best Director in the Women Filmmakers Section. Bekbalaeva also co-won Best Script for "OT" (Burning) in the Asian Film Competition, making her a double winner at the 24th edition.

• "Abel" (Elzat Eskendir, Kazakhstan, 2026) - Won Best Actor (Yerlan Tuleutay) and Best Cinematography (Jolanta Dylewska). The film represents the continued strength of Kazakh cinema in the Asian competition.

The West Meets East Screenplay Lab, now in its 4th edition, has selected 10 finalists from across Asia for mentorship by international experts, with development funding of TK 500,000 (first), TK 300,000 (second), and TK 200,000 (third) for the top three scripts. The lab is coordinated by filmmaker Aka Reza Ghalib and critic-screenwriter Sadia Khalid Reeti.

Submission Tips

1. Submit during the open window, free of charge: The 25th edition (2027) opens submissions from June 1 to September 30, 2026. DIFF does not charge entry or submission fees, which is unusual for a festival of this scale. Take advantage of the free submission, but ensure your film meets all eligibility requirements before applying.

1. Bangladesh festival premiere is required: Films previously screened at any other festival within Bangladesh are ineligible. This is a hard requirement. Your film must not have been shown at any Bangladeshi festival before DIFF. However, DIFF does not require a world or international premiere, so films that have screened at festivals outside Bangladesh remain eligible.

1. Choose your category carefully: Each film may be submitted to one category only. A filmmaker cannot have multiple films selected in the same category. Multiple submissions are allowed if each film is in a different category. Review the categories (Asian Film Competition, Women Filmmakers Section, Cinema of the World, Bangladesh Panorama, Children Films, Short and Independent Films, Spiritual Films) and select the most appropriate one for your film.

1. No resubmission rule: Films previously submitted to DIFF, whether accepted or rejected, cannot be resubmitted in any subsequent edition. This means you get one chance per film. Do not submit a film until it is in its best possible form.

1. Prepare MP4 (HD) format, not DCP: All screenings take place at non-theatrical auditoriums equipped for MP4 (HD) playback only. DCP format is not supported. All selected films must be submitted in high-resolution MP4 format with hardcoded English subtitles or a separate SRT file. The final screening copy must be provided via a downloadable email link. This is a hard requirement and cannot be negotiated after submission.

1. Prepare for censorship review: No film will be screened without a Screening Certificate from the Bangladesh Film Censorship Board. All selected films are reviewed by a Special Preview Committee for content including nudity, obscenity, sexually explicit material, disrespect to religion, or content that may harm Bangladesh's international relations. The festival may implement cuts or blurring per Board guidance. Consider this carefully before submitting, particularly if your film contains LGBTQ+ themes, religious criticism, or political content.

1. Withdrawal is not permitted after selection: Once a film is officially selected, it cannot be withdrawn under any circumstances. Violations of festival rules may result in legal action by the organizing committee. This is an unusually strict withdrawal policy compared to most international festivals. Be certain you are comfortable with the festival's terms before submitting.

1. West Meets East Screenplay Lab for Asian screenwriters: If you are an Asian screenwriter with a project in development, apply to the West Meets East Screenplay Lab. The lab selects 10 finalists for mentorship by international experts during the festival, with development funding for the top three scripts (TK 500,000, TK 300,000, TK 200,000). The 2026 lab submission deadline was July 31, 2025, so check the official website for the 2027 lab deadline.

Industry Reputation Notes

The Dhaka International Film Festival is Bangladesh's leading international film festival and a significant platform for Asian cinema:

Strengths: DIFF is the most important international film festival in Bangladesh, organized by Rainbow Film Society since 1992 (the society has promoted cine culture in Bangladesh since 1977). The festival screens approximately 250 films from dozens of countries, making it one of the larger Asian festivals by program size. The Asian Film Competition is a respected competitive section with an international jury. The Women Filmmakers Section is one of the few at an Asian festival with a dedicated competition for women filmmakers with international jury representation. The West Meets East Screenplay Lab provides real development funding for Asian screenwriters. The festival does not charge submission fees, which is unusual for a festival of this scale. The Cinema of the World section accepts international films outside competition, providing a platform for non-Asian filmmakers to reach Bangladeshi audiences.

Limitations: The censorship requirement is significant. All films must pass the Bangladesh Film Censorship Board, which reviews content for nudity, sexually explicit material, LGBTQ+ themes, religious disrespect, and content affecting international relations. Films may be subject to cuts or blurring. This is the most restrictive censorship environment among major Asian festivals and may deter filmmakers whose work engages with sensitive content. The technical format requirement (MP4 only, no DCP) is unusual for a festival of this scale and reflects the non-theatrical auditorium venues. The strict withdrawal policy (no withdrawal after selection, with legal action threatened for violations) is more restrictive than most international festivals. The festival does not pay screening fees to selected filmmakers.

Who attends: The festival attracts filmmakers from across Asia, with particular strength in South Asian, Central Asian, and East Asian cinema. The 22nd edition (2024) was attended by Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi and Indian-Bengali actress Sharmila Tagore. The 24th edition (2026) included international jury members from Croatia/UK, Iran/Australia, and Bangladesh. The audience is primarily Bangladeshi, with the festival serving as a major cultural event in Dhaka. The festival's connection to South Asian broadcasters and distributors provides some market access for Bangladeshi and regional filmmakers.

For Asian filmmakers: The Asian Film Competition is DIFF's lead section and a respected competitive platform. Films must be fiction features of 70 or more minutes. The Bangladesh festival premiere requirement is the key eligibility constraint. The festival's location in Dhaka provides access to South Asian audiences and industry that are difficult to reach through other festivals.

For women filmmakers: The Women Filmmakers Section accepts features (55 or more minutes), shorts (maximum 30 minutes), and documentaries by female directors. Three prizes are awarded by an independent all-female jury with international representation. This section is one of the few at an Asian festival with a dedicated competition for women filmmakers.

For Bangladeshi filmmakers: DIFF is the most important domestic international platform. The Bangladesh Panorama section provides a dedicated platform for national cinema. The West Meets East Screenplay Lab offers development funding for Bangladeshi and Asian screenwriters. The festival's connection to South Asian broadcasters and distributors provides market access that is not available through other domestic platforms.

For international filmmakers: The Cinema of the World section accepts international films outside competition. The free submission is attractive, but the censorship requirement is a significant consideration. Films with content that may not pass the Bangladesh Film Censorship Board (LGBTQ+ themes, religious criticism, political content, sexually explicit material) should consider whether DIFF is the right platform. The MP4-only technical requirement means DCP-only productions cannot screen at this festival.

See Also

For South Asian cinema markets and co-production opportunities, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit planning, see Film Festival Strategy. Use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator to evaluate the cost-benefit of festival submissions. For India's FIAPF-accredited festival, see International Film Festival of India (IFFI).