The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival 2026 (DIMFF 2026), an outreach programme of the Department of Media Studies and Journalism at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), officially began with its opening ceremony at the ULAB permanent campus.

The festival is powered by Star Cineplex and supported by Infinix Mobile Bangladesh, reaffirming its commitment to promoting mobile filmmaking and innovative cinematic storytelling. The opening day featured two screening sessions, showcasing 15 films selected from a total of 25 for this year’s festival.

DIMFF 2026 received 131 film submissions from 24 countries, reflecting its growing international recognition and the diversity and creative strength of mobile cinema worldwide.

The opening ceremony began with a welcome address by Professor Din M Sumon Rahman, head of the Department of Media Studies and Journalism at ULAB and chief advisor of DIMFF. He highlighted the evolving role of mobile filmmaking and the importance of providing a global platform for emerging filmmakers.

A video message from jury member Leon Desclozeaux was screened, in which he praised the quality of the films and conveyed his best wishes for the continued success of the festival.

The keynote address was delivered by Tanim Noor, filmmaker, writer, and producer, as the chief guest. He spoke on storytelling, creative integrity, and cinema’s power to provoke thought and dialogue. A token of appreciation was presented to him by Syeda Sadia Mehjabin, advisor of DIMFF.

The opening day included Film Screening Session 1, featuring four mobile films, followed by a vote of thanks by Pantha Rahman, co-advisor of DIMFF.

DIMFF 2026 also hosted a panel discussion titled “Film Distribution in Bangladesh”, focusing on industry challenges, evolving platforms, and future opportunities. Panelists included Raka Nowshin Nawar, independent filmmaker; Mohammad Shazzad Hossain, PhD, academic; Md Shahadat Hossain Himel, marketing and sales, Star Cineplex; and Md Ali Haider, head of content at Bongo. The session was moderated by Ramjan Ali Emon.

The evening segment began with a welcome address by Syeda Sadia Mehjabin, followed by a video presentation in which Zahra Nusrat, festival director, shared the journey of DIMFF 2026. An additional 11 films were screened during the session.

The opening day concluded with an address by Tariq Anam Khan, actor, writer, and filmmaker, who reflected on his early days in theatre and noted that cinema has never been confined to a single device—an idea that resonates with the spirit of DIMFF. He compared short films to poetry, highlighting their ability to convey profound meaning within a limited timeframe. A crest was presented to him by Syeda Sadia Mehjabin in recognition of his contribution to cinema. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Wadud Islam, instructor of DIMFF.

This year’s festival is powered by Star Cineplex and presented by Infinix. Media partners include The Business Standard and The Daily Samakal, with Dhaka Post and Ittefaq as online media partners. TBS Graduate is the youth engagement partner, while Channel i serves as the broadcast partner. Other partners include The Castor (digital media), Rang Berang (magazine), Bangla Vision, Dhaka Journal, Masranga, ULAB TV (campus TV), Tickmark (event partner), and Lumiere Moments and Bevore Production as documentation partners.

The closing ceremony of DIMFF 2026 will be held at Star Cineplex, Shimanto Shombhar, Dhanmondi, at 6:00 pm.