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 flagship 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 exploring 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 flagship 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 showcase. 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

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).