Dhaka is about to turn into a vibrant crossroads of global storytelling. As the calendar flips to 2026, the capital prepares for a cinematic spectacle – the 24th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) – bringing together 267 films from 91 countries for nine days of screenings, discussions, and artistic celebration.
Running January 10-18, 2026, this edition marks the largest lineup in the festival’s 33-year history, with an unprecedented participation of Bangladeshi filmmakers – signaling a moment of pride for the country’s creative scene.
Where film meets philosophy
With the theme “Aesthetic Films, Enlightened Society,” DIFF 2026 aims to go beyond entertainment. The festival is designed as a dialogue – encouraging viewers to think, question, feel, and rediscover cinema as an art form.
Films will compete across nine thoughtfully curated sections:
Asian Cinema
Bangladesh Panorama
Women Filmmakers
Spiritual Films
Short & Independent Films
World Cinema
Retrospective
Wide Angle
Children’s Cinema
Festival director Ahmed Mujtaba Jamal confirmed that eight Bangladeshi films have earned their place in the highly anticipated Bangladesh Panorama category, including:
Japita Jiban — Habibur Islam Habib
Naya Manush — Sohel Rana Boyati
The Story of a Rock — Jack Mir
Ural — Jobaidur Rahman
Dhamer Gaan — Biplob Kumar Pal Bipu
Naya Note — Anonya Pratik Chowdhury
Agantuk — Suman Dhar
Ekhan Politika Alap Agar — Ahmed Hasan Sunny
A city-wide festival experience
Film enthusiasts will be able to catch screenings across iconic cultural spaces:
Alliance Française de Dhaka
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
Bangladesh National Museum Auditorium
Universities will also join the experience, with special screenings at Stamford University and Jahangirnagar University, ensuring the next generation of filmmakers and cinephiles sit close to the creative fire.
Beyond the screen: Dialogues, craft & learning
The festival isn’t just about watching films – it’s about understanding them.
Key events include:
12th Women in Cinema Conference
Dhaka Club | January 11–12
4th West Meets East Screenplay Lab
January 11–14 | Now expanded with wider Asian participation
Masterclass Series
Featuring global directors and industry experts | January 17
Art meets cinema
A curated Painting Exhibition by Lutfa Mahmuda at the 3D Art Gallery (Bangladesh Military Museum, January 9-17) will blend visual and cinematic art in the festival’s creative spirit.
Meanwhile, a major highlight returns: Chinese Film Week, marking 120 years of Chinese cinema with 15 selected screenings.
A legacy of meaningful cinema
Organised by the Rainbow Film Society – established in 1977 and the driving force behind DIFF since 1992 – the festival continues its mission: promoting thoughtful, artistic, socially conscious cinema while resisting the lure of “cheap commercialism” and fast entertainment.
For more than three decades, DIFF has been a cultural ritual – a stage where world stories converge, new talent emerges, and audiences discover films that linger long after the credits fade.
A global celebration awaits
As January approaches, Dhaka isn’t just hosting a festival – it is transforming into a cinematic city. A place where filmmakers, students, critics, dreamers, and audiences unite under the shared light of the projector beam.
This year, DIFF promises not just movie-watching – but a journey, a conversation, and a celebration of storytelling in its purest form.
Curtains rise January 10. Dhaka, get ready – cinema is coming home.