Standard Chartered Bank and The Daily Star Jointly launched a contest styled 'Celebrating Life’ on film, photography and lyrics to encourage new talents and project a better image of Bangladesh by highlighting its natural beauty and cultural heritage
Standard Chartered Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Osman Morad and Ilie Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam signed a three-year agreement in this regard at a press conference at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital yesterday.
The contest on film includes a short documentary and a fiction film on the theme 'Knowing Bangladesh Better'. The photography contest will be on the theme 'Bangladesh -- My Love' taken anywhere in Bangladesh except Dhaka and the contest on lyrics, both in Bangla and English, will be on the same theme
Separate jury boards comprising nine eminent personalities and experts on different subjects will judge the entries.
The winners of the contests will be awarded in a mega event titled 'Celebrating Life' in Dhaka by the
end of July 2008.
Immediately afterwards, the winning films will be screened on Channel 1. Audio cassettes and CDs will be produced from die winning lyrics with collaboration of music houses.
Citer, the same festival will be replicated in 12 districts across the country throughout 2008.
"We are optimistic about Bangladesh It is going to be a middle-income country in near future. It, however, involves not only financial issues, but also socio-cultural aspects,'' said Standard Chartered CEO Osman Morad at the launch of the contest.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anant said such a competition has been organised to promote creative artists who have tremendous contribution to make towards nation-building and improving the image of the country and promoting her culture and tradition.
Channel i Managing Director Faridur Reza Sagar, film director Tareque Masud, lyricist Mohammad Rafiquzzaman, Standard Chartered Bank's Regional Head of Corporate Affairs, South Asia, Shah Masud Imam and festival coordinator Rafi Hossain
also spoke at the press conference.
Filin contest
Contestants are invited to make films depicting any aspect of Bangladesh’s nature, culture, lifestyle, commerce and politics and are encouraged to focus on niral Bangladesh.
I he length of the films should be between 20 to 30 minutes and the submissions must be in DVD format for preview purposes. Only the winners will be asked to provide master copies of their films in DVCAM master format. Submissions must be original and unscreened works of the filmmakers.
Ihe best submissions will be awarded in the following categories: Best Documentary, Best Short Fiction, Special Jury Award Documentary, and Special Jury Award Short Fiction. The awards for two best films carry Tk 100,000 each while the two special award films will be given I k 50,000 each.
The winning films will be shown on Channel i and screened in a touring festival programme at the district level throughout Bangladesh. Eminent film directors have shown interest to work closely
with the top two winners for upcoming projects.
Photography contest
The contest titled 'Bangladesh -- My Love' invites photographs taken anywhere in Bangladesh except Dhaka.
The entries should bring to light a positive image of Bangladesh, based on any specific district or region. Participants are allowed to submit any number of entries and the size of the photographs can be either lf>" x 20" or 12" x 16".
Ten winners will receive certificates, crests and cash prizes. 'Ilie first prize carries'! k25,000, while the first runner-up will receive Ik 20,000 and the set ond runner-up Tk 15,(XX). Ute other winnerswill receiveTk5000each.
The winning photographs will be featured in the district level festivals across Bangladesh. The top three winners of the photography competi tion will have an opportunity to work with The Daily Star as apprentices.
Lyrics contest
The contest is on the theme of 'Bangladesh -- My Love'. The contestants are encouraged to write patriotic songs and the entries can be in both English and Bangla. Participants can also submit any number of entries.
Twelve winners will be selected in two categories -- six for English lyrics and six for Bangla lyrics --and they will receive certificates, crests and cash prizes.
The first prizes in both the categories carry Tk 10,000 each while the first runners-up in both the categories will receive Tk 7,000 and the second runners-up Tk 5,000. The other winners will receiveTk 3,000 each.
Renowned music directors will compose songs based on the winning lyrics, and young and veteran singers will give voice to the songs, which will be featured on cassettes and CDs. The winning lyrics will also be featured in district level festivals throughout Bangladesh.
The entries should be submitted to Rafi Hossain, festival coordinator, The Daily Star, 19 Karwan Bazar, Dhaka-1215. by May 31,2008.
'Celebrating Life’ is being organised by the Star Insight, a fortnightly magazine of The Daily Star. Radio fqorti, Bangladesh infp.com and Channel i are the media panriers bf the everiV " ‘‘