Our films will have to improve quality, acting and technical efficiency to keep pace with the sky culture: HPM Sheikh Hasina

"The door of sky culture is now open....to sustain in the competition, our films will have to improve quality, acting and technical efficiency to keep pace with the sky culture and new technologies," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while handing over the National Film Award 2014 as the chief guest at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre here on Wednesday afternoon.

Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu presided over the function, while Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Information Ministry AKM Rahmatullah spoke as the special guest.

Information Secretary Martuza Ahmed delivered the welcome address and eminent actor Hasan Imam, who got the lifetime achievement award, also spoke at the function expressing his feelings about getting the National Film Award 2014.

The Premier also urged the filmmakers to project various social problems alongside country's history, heritage, culture and the War of Liberation through their movies.

"You are creative and popular personalities and the people follow you. So your obligation to society and the people is much more than others," she said.

The Premier said films are such a mass medium where illustrated reflection of happiness and sorrow, laughter and tears of the soil and human being are made.

"So I would like to request you to see that the people learn something by watching movies and play a role in changing society by applying these," she said.

Terming film as a creative mass medium, she said many artistes and performers are working in this sector. "So there is an immense scope to further flourish this industry," she said, urging the private sector to patronise the industry side by side with the government.

The Premier also put emphasis on improving the environment of cinema halls to keep the audience in the movie houses side by side with making good films.

In this connection, she urged the well-off people to supplement the government strides for the development of the film industry.

She said though the cinemas of the big cities are developed, the movie houses in mufassil areas still remain neglected. "So the cinemas in the mufassil areas will have to be developed with modern technologies to attract spectators," she observed.

Sheikh Hasina said film is a strong mass medium through which social reforms could be made alongside reaching messages on various issues to the people.

"It projects good and bad sides of the society to the people and creates merits and thoughts among the people," she said, adding that's why her government is working to flourish the film industry.

The Prime Minister said her government is striving to promote art, culture and sports and giving donation in these fields.

The Premier also laid stress on studying and carrying out researches to further improve standard of the films and said her government has been working to create supportive environment to make movies, study on film, training and research.

Spelling out her government's various steps for the development of the film industry, she said whenever her government came to power the expansion of art and culture was made.

Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman realising the inherent power of the film, had taken steps for the development and promotion of the film industry immediately after independence.

Bangabandhu, when he was the minister in charge of industries, commerce, labour and anti-corruption, placed the 'Film Development Corporation Bill' in the then Provincial Assembly on April 3, 1957.

"Subsequently, the FDC was established after the assembly had passed the bill," she said, adding that commemorating the event, the government declared April 3 as the National Film Day.

She said her government has taken steps to establish Bangabandhu Film City at Kabirpur on the outskirts of the capital with modern facilities.

"We have also founded Bangladesh Film and Television Institute and land was allocated for establishing its permanent campus at Kalyanpur," she said.

She said the country's film had almost lost its glory after the assassination of Bangabandhu. "But after coming to power we restored the glory by taking various steps in the industry," she said.

Highly praising the ability of the country's filmmakers and performers, prime minister said they have all international standard quality to make films using the modern technology. "Our actors and actresses are very much talented," she said.

In this connection, she also shared her personal opinion on the quality of the films that are being displayed in the newly-procured aircraft of Bangladesh Biman when she flies.

"I'm really impressed watching the high quality of acting of performers and film makers," she said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the National Film Award 2014 that included a crest, certificate and cheque for money.

Twenty-nine artistes and film professionals have been selected for the National Film Award 2014 in 28 categories for their glorious and outstanding contributions to the film industry.

Eminent actor Syed Hasan Imam and actress Rani Sarkar have been selected for lifetime achievements.

The film Nekabbarer Mahaproyan of Masud Pathik has been selected as the best film while Gariwala of Ashraful Alam alias Ashraf Shishir has become the best short film.

Meghmallar director Zahidur Rahman Anjan has become the best director.

Ferdous Ahmed (Ek Cup Cha) has been selected as the best actor in main character, while Moushumi (Tarkata) and Bidya Sinha Mim (Jonakir Alo) have been selected as the best actresses jointly in the main characters.

The other awardees are best documentary - Gariwala produced by Mohammad Ashraful Alam alias Ashraf Monir, best director- Jahidur Rahman Anjan for Meghmallar, best side actor - Ezaz Islam (Tarkata), best side actress - Chitra Lekha Guho (Ekattorer Ma Jononi), best villain - Tariq Anam (Desha the leader), best comedy actor - Misha Sawdagor (Olpo Olpo Premer Golpo), best child actor - Abir Hossain Angkon (Baishamya), best child actress (special award) - Marzan Hossain Jara (Meghmallar), best music director - Saim Rana (Nekkabarer Mahaproyan), best singer male - Mahfuz Anam James (Desha the leader), best singer female - Runa Laila (Priya Tumi Sukhi Hou) and Momtaz (Nekkabarer Mahaproyan), best composer - Masud Pathik (Nekkabarer Mahaproyan), best lyricist - Belal Khan (Nekkabarer Mahaproyan), best storywriter - Akhtaruzzaman Ilias (Meghmollar), best cinematography - Saikat Nasir (Desha the Leader), best dialogue - Zahidur Rahman Anjan (Meghmollar), best editor - Towhid Hossain Chowdhury (Desha the leader), best art director - Maruf Samurai (Tarkata), best photographer - Mohammad Hossain Jemy (Baishamya), Best sound recording - Ratan Pal (Meghmallar), best costume and decoration - Kanak Chanpa Chakma (Jonakir Alo) and best makeup man - Andur Rahman (Nekkabarer Mahaproyan).