ULAB and IAMCR organised 2nd edition of Dhaka Media Summit

The Media Studies and Journalism Department of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), in collaboration with the International Association for Media and Communication Research Bangladesh (IAMCR Bangladesh), organized the second season of the Dhaka Media Summit, which took place on October 13-14 at the ULAB Research Building Auditorium in Dhanmondi.

The summit, themed "Reshaping Cinema Narratives," brought together filmmakers, film producers, film broadcasters, academics, policymakers, and civil society representatives to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the evolving cinema landscape. This year's Dhaka Media Summit was held in a blended mode, with both online and in-person activities.

The summit was inaugurated by the Convener of Dhaka Media Summit 2023, Dr. Muhammad Abdul Kader; followed by welcome speech of the Professor Dr. Jude William Genilo, the conference chair of Dhaka Media Summit and pro vice chancellor of ULAB along with Usha Raman, the Vice President of IAMCR Bangladesh. The noted film maker Tanvir Mokammel was present there as the keynote speaker of the opening ceremony to make the summit more festive and insightful.

The two-day event featured roundtable discussions, lecture sessions, keynote speeches, and masterclasses. The summit showcased a distinguished lineup of speakers. Keynotes, panel discussions, and interactive sessions explored a wide range of topics, including "The Case Study of Korean Cinema’s New Wave" by filmmaker Bang Junwon James from South Korea, "Regulating Moving Images: Sweden in the 1960s and 1970s" by Mariah Larsson, a film studies professor from Linnaeus University of Sweden, and "Afghan Cinema and Cultural Representation" by Ahmad Saeed from Nangarhar University, Afghanistan, among many others.

Additionally, the event delved into topics concerning the impact of new media and OTT platforms on cinema production, distribution, and consumption. A total of 58 research papers were presented, originating from 11 different countries across the globe, making this edition a truly international gathering of insights. Summit was also enriched by the esteemed panels from Lomonosov Moscow State University, Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University India, UIN Walisongo Semarang Indonesia, LSPR Institute of Communication and Business from Indonesia, Swinburne University of Technology from Australia and many more.

The closing session of the summit featured a keynote speech by Lotte Hoek, a distinguished film researcher from the University of Edinburgh, UK, who shed light on her work on Film and Contemporary Art in Bangladesh, inspiring attendees with her insights.

The summit concluded with the grand finale, showcasing the movie "DEAR SATYAJIT" by Proshoon Rahmaan, with the director himself in attendance, adding to the event's memorability.

The Dhaka Media Summit 2023 was a resounding success, fostering an environment for meaningful discussions and the exchange of ideas within the cinema and media industry. The event left participants with a sense of enlightenment, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of cinema narratives and their impact on society.