Dhaka: The 15th Dhaka International Film Festival will begin at the National Museum auditorium on January 12 with the slogan ‘Better Film, Better Audience, Better Society’.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith will inaugurate the 10-day festival while Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu will be present as special guest.

Rainbow Film Society, organiser of the festival, disclosed the details about the festival at a press conference in the city on Monday.

The other venues of the film festival are Central Public Library auditorium, Allince Francaise De Dhaka, The Edward M Kennedy Center and Star Cinelpex. 

Palestinian filmmaker Mai Masri’s movie ‘300 Nights’ will be screened on the inaugural day.  

A total of 166 films from around 67 countries, including Bangladesh, will be screened in the festival.

The festival will include discussions, seminars, workshops and a competition of Asian and Australian cinemas.

As a part of the festival, a 13-day painting exhibition of Iranian painter Sarah Hojjati will begin at Shilpangon Art Gallery on January 8.

Besides, a two-day conference on ‘Third Dhaka International Conference on Women in Cinema 2017’ will be held at the Allince Francaise De Dhaka.

Assistant Professor of Gender and Women Studies Department of Dhaka University Ishrat Khan will coordinate the seminar programme where six papers of different countries will be presented.

The film festival will end on January 20.