North South University’s Department of Media, Communication and Journalism has organised a two-day masterclass bringing together filmmakers, faculty members and students to discuss cinema, the Partition and creative expression.

Titled “Masterclass on Film and Cultural Production”, the event was held on the NSU campus last week, according to a press release.

The opening day featured a screening of “Chitra Nodir Paare”, directed by Ekushey Padak-winning filmmaker Tanvir Mokammel.

Following the screening, Mokammel led a session on the historical portrayal and cultural memory of the Partition in Bangladeshi cinema.

Students and faculty members discussed storytelling techniques, historical context and the development of national cinema during a question-and-answer session.

“Young aspiring filmmakers should never self-censor their creative vision,” Mokammel said.

“True engagement happens when you trust the organic process of storytelling to shape a narrative that resonates genuinely with your audience,” he added.

The second day featured a screening of “The University of Chankharpul”, directed by Akash Haque.

The cast and crew joined a discussion on independent filmmaking in Bangladesh and shared details of the production process.

The film’s protagonist, NSU alumnus Devodyuti Aich, recalled his experiences as a student and shared observations with aspiring filmmakers.

Students from the department also screened short films produced as part of their creative work.

NSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury attended the programme as chief guest.

“NSU will always be a home for our students, dedicated to fostering their passion and supporting their creative rigour every step of the way,” Abdul Hannan said.

School of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Dr Md Rizwanul Islam praised the organisers for connecting academic study with practical media production.

“We hope to see our MCJ students take their creative journeys onto local and global platforms, bringing their artistic vision to broader audiences around the world,” Rizwanul said.

Department of Media, Communication and Journalism Chair Dr Md Harisur Rahman said the department planned to continue organising such events to connect students with industry professionals and provide opportunities to showcase their work.

The programme concluded with a cultural presentation organised by students from the department.