Entertainment Desk

Renowned actors Ilias Kanchan and Azmeri Haque Badhan have been appointed as members of two different jury boards for the 23rd edition of the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) next year.

The nine-day festival will showcase around 250 films from 75 countries and is set to run from January 11 to 19.

Ilias Kanchan will serve as a juror in the Asian Film Competition section of DIFF. this panel also includes Norwegian distributor Åge Hoffart, Chinese director Zhang Yudi, Mongolian actress Mungunzul Amgalanbaatar, and British filmmaker Dragan Milinkovic.

Reflecting on his role, Ilias Kanchan spoke with local media and shared, “I previously served as a judge in this festival. Although I couldn’t participate in subsequent years despite receiving invitations. I have accepted the responsibility again this year and will strive to perform my duties well.”

Azmeri Haque Badhan will serve as a jury member in the Women Filmmaker Section. The jury panel for this category also includes London-based Bangladeshi actress and filmmaker Leesa Gazi, Chinese Producer Mei Po Rainbow Fong, and Iranian actress Hoda Moghaddam Manesh.

Badhan expressed her excitement and gratitude at being selected as a jury member conveying, “It is truly an honour and a joy to be part of this prestigious festival, which has been a significant platform for many years. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with my fellow jury members and gaining valuable new experiences through this opportunity.”

“Festivals have always intrigued me. During the journey of ‘Rehana Maryam Noor’, I attended numerous prestigious festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival and other major global events, as an artiste. However, being part of a festival as a jury member—evaluating films and forming judgments—introduces a unique blend of challenge and excitement. Additionally, the opportunity to meet new people is something I deeply cherish,” Badhan further reflected.

The actress previously served as a jury member at the I Am Tomorrow Film Festival in Brussels and the Bengaluru International Film Festival, both of which she participated online.

Speaking about the experience, she shared, “Due to work commitments, I joined the I Am Tomorrow Festival held in Brussels in November 2023 online. Additionally, I could not attend the Bengaluru Festival in person as my visa was not granted, despite the Karnataka government requesting the Indian High Commission in our country to process it. Ultimately, I had to join online. It will be my first experience attending a festival as a jury member in person at DIFF, and I am immensely enthusiastic about it. The festival is open to everyone, and I invite all to enjoy the films from around the world.”