The initiative is a joint venture of Goethe Institut Bangladesh and International Film Initiative of Bangladesh (IFIB), showcasing works of female filmmakers and giving people an opportunity to enjoy them. The series will consist of films directed by women screened at the auditorium of the Goethe Institut in Dhanmandi.
There will be one film screened every month, always at 5PM on the third Sunday, as it was for ‘Under Construction’ today. Originally released in 2015, it is a tale of three women at different stages of life, and belonging to different classes in society. Starring Shahana Ghosh, Rahul Bose and Rikita Nandini, the film was critically acclaimed and got several awards on the international festival circuit.
In what promises to add an extra dimension to the experience of going to the cinema throughout the series, after the end credits rolled the director herself graced the stage for a Q&A session where she discussed several aspects of the movie and her career.
"I did not choose the profession of filmmaking, it chose me," said Rubaiyat discussing her entry into the field. She said shooting a film gives her the most happiness.
"As a filmmaker I considered myself a mediocre one," she added at one stage.
She also discussed her future projects, one namely 'Made in Bangladesh', is the story of a female RMG worker focusing on the positive changes brought about by them in Bangladesh. One can certainly sense an underlying feminist ethos in her body of work.
Her ideological leanings gain further exposure during the interactive session as she expresses her interest in making a 'class trilogy'.
IFIB founding president Samia Zaman and Director of Goethe-Institut Bangladesh Kirsten Hackenbroch were both present throughout.