A team from Jahangirnagar University has won a month-long mobile filmmaking workshop organised by the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) in collaboration with UNHCR, with the closing ceremony held at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) Permanent Campus on 11 September.

The workshop focused on filmmaking and refugee experiences under the theme “Forced to Flee”, with participants receiving training in colour grading and other filmmaking techniques.

Participants also learned about the experiences of refugees and UNHCR’s work in supporting refugee communities before producing short films based on the workshop theme.

Five teams were shortlisted from 20 participating universities, including the University of Dhaka, ULAB, North South University, Jahangirnagar University and Daffodil International University. The jury selected “MANOB” from Jahangirnagar University as the winning team.

The closing ceremony featured remarks from Professor Dr Sumon Rahman, dean of the School of Social Sciences and head of the Department of Media Studies and Journalism at ULAB, and Mir Wadud Islam, instructor and co-adviser of DIMFF 2027.

Representing UNHCR Bangladesh, Kevin Lindblom, associate external relations officer, highlighted the role of storytelling in building awareness and understanding of refugee experiences.

Jury members Md Hafizuddin Munna and Ishtiyak Ahmad Zihad also shared their observations on the participating films and encouraged young filmmakers to use storytelling to highlight issues and experiences around them.

The winning team said the workshop helped its members discover new skills and explore creative ways of telling stories through filmmaking.

Certificates were distributed among participants at the ceremony in recognition of their involvement in the workshop. As the winning prize, UNHCR will provide the MANOB team with a day-long tour of a Rohingya refugee camp.

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks from Syeda Sadia Mehjabin, senior lecturer and adviser of DIMFF 2027. Organisers said the workshop reflected DIMFF’s aim of empowering young filmmakers to use mobile technology as a tool for storytelling and communication.