Bangladeshi film ‘Field Marshal’ wins IEFTA award at Dhaka DocLab

Animated documentary film titled ‘Field Marshal’, directed by Abid Sarker Shohag and produced by Sardar Zahidul Islam, took home the International Emerging Film Talents Association (IEFTA) Award at Dhaka Doc Lab 2021.

“We are very excited. We hope our film will find an international audience,” director Abid Sarker Shohag shared his feelings to The Business Post.

The fifth edition of Dhaka DocLab started online in August. After two months of workshop and pitching sessions, the event ended on September 27 with a virtual award giving ceremony.

The virtual award ceremony streamed live on the official Facebook page of Dhaka Doc Lab. The IEFTA prize provides funding for the winners to present their idea at the Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film.

The animated film tells the narrative of Field Marshal, a Sarail hound nurtured by none other than General Muhammad Ataul Goni Osmani who served as the Commander-in-chief of Bangladesh Forces during the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence.

“The story of a defiant dog witnessing, fighting and enduring the Liberation War of 1971. Field Marshal, a Sarail hound, is among the first victims of the war that lasted for nine months. The documentary film explores the irony of independence and joy of homecoming from a dog’s perspective,” Abid Sarker said about the plot of ‘Field Marshal’.

Co-produced by the Mongol Deep Foundation, the film’s animation director is Robiul Karim Minar while Milton Sarkar is the chief animator.

Apart from ‘Field Marshal’s recognition at the IEFTA award, ‘Devi’ directed by Subina Sreshtha from Nepal won the Dhaka DocLab Best Project South Asia, ‘First Fairytale Book’ directed by ABM Nazmul Huda won the Best Project Bangladesh, ‘Trap’ directed by M Nipunika Fernando from Sri Lanka won the Global Film and Media Initiative Award, ‘Land of Despise’ by Mezanur Rahman won the Docedge Kolkata Award at Dhaka DocLab 2021.

Dhaka DocLab is the first platform of its kind to organise pitching events, workshops, masterclasses, and seminars for Bangladeshi documentary filmmakers, allowing for greater access and opportunity as a creative content and reality storytelling powerhouse in South Asia.