The 24th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) is scheduled to take place from January 10 to 18, 2026, with preparations already in full swing. Organised by the Rainbow Film Society, the festival will continue its tradition of celebrating global cinema and encouraging creative storytelling.
As part of the festival, the fourth edition of the "West Meets East Screenplay Lab" is now open for submissions. This unique initiative is aimed at emerging filmmakers from across Asia. The lab will select ten finalists, who will receive mentorship from renowned international filmmakers and screenwriters during the festival.
The top three scripts from the lab will be awarded development funding of Tk 500,000, Tk 300,000, and Tk 200,000 respectively. The initiative is being coordinated by filmmaker Aka Reza Ghalib and film critic-screenwriter Sadia Khalid Reeti. The submission deadline for the lab is July 31, 2025.
Festival Director Ahmed Mujtaba Jamal shared that selecting around 250 films from thousands of global submissions is a tough task. “Our team is already working on selecting venues, ensuring security, arranging accommodation, and managing hospitality to provide a smooth and vibrant festival experience,” he added.
Apart from film screenings and the screenplay lab, the 2026 edition of DIFF will also feature the annual “Women in Cinema” conference, panel discussions, and cultural programmes, highlighting the festival’s commitment to diversity and dialogue in the arts.
Since its inception, DIFF has promoted the Rainbow Film Society’s motto: “Aesthetic cinema, thoughtful audiences, enlightened society.” The upcoming edition promises to uphold this vision while offering filmmakers and audiences a unique platform to connect, learn, and celebrate the power of cinema.
Interested filmmakers can visit the DIFF website for submission guidelines and further details.
