Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with Kazi Ashequr Rahaman Sujan, the founder and general secretary at Sreemangal Film Society/SFS. An independent filmmaker hailing from Bangladesh who harboured big creative aspirations, Sujan—with the help of his like-minded friends, Faysal Ahmed Shuvo (society President) and Kazi Akequr Rahaman Shuvo and Samiur Rahman Sami (co-founders)—established this independent banner to follow through on them.
Here he shares with me more about growing his passion for independent filmmaking through his homegrown film society. He also talks about giving wings, voices, and networking opportunities to more creative-minded folk with limited resources so that they too could work on their craft and establish their filmmaking careers too.
*Note: this interview has been edited for clarity.
Vidal Dcosta for The Movie Buff: What or who influenced you to establish the Sreemangal Film Society (SFS)? What sets your organization apart from other film production companies/organizations?
Kazi Ashequr Rahaman Sujan: I have been dreaming of acting since my childhood. But, it was too difficult to express my talent and fulfill that wish at the time. Firstly, I had no knowledge about filmmaking or acting. But I still harboured this hardcore dream of being an actor. I even used to watch movies more than cartoons. In 2014, after completing my SSC exam (Indian equivalent of tenth grade of high school), my time was freed up to pursue these passions. Me and some of my friends and cousins attempted to instantly make a short film. This was also when I learnt about YouTube and other digital platforms to distribute my small projects. My friend Sadik uploaded our short film on his YouTube channel and it got 100 views at the time. Afterwards, some of my college friends showed their interest in filmmaking and the rest is history!
Poster art for “Colors of Dead Soul,” a film presented by the Sreemangal Film Society. (Submitted photo).
It has been an arduous but amazing task. We have tried to learn all we can about filmmaking with the help of the Internet: how to make a schedule for shoots, how to manage scripts, choose characters, distribution, and so on.
We also felt the need to find like-minded people who wished to do something exceptional in an artistic way. Thus, [we] set out to create a film community where creative people will practice art of filming. [On December 25th, 2016], I founded Sreemangal Film Society with some of my friends and brothers within the creative community. We even made a founding council and constitution that drives forth our growing filmmaking society.
It is also the 1st and only film practicing organization in the tea town of [the] Moulvibazar district in Bangladesh, but we are focusing on exploring the beauty and talent of Sreemangal, and someday growing in popularity worldwide.
Could you offer our readers some insight into all the opportunities that SFS has opened for budding filmmakers?
KA: SFS is open to all the creative people who want to create something exceptional or make our society more beautiful than before. In this society, we are the filmmaker, writer, editor, actor, producer, etc. Everything that a film require, we try to do it ourselves. It is the society’s motto that we can learn together slowly, but through a steady process. You can call us an indie platform for indie filmmakers and beyond!
As a filmmaker and film producer, how has the recent pandemic shaped you as a professional? How has it affected your craft or the work you carry out in the industry? What are some lessons you will be taking away from it?
KA: Recently we have become stronger as a result of the pandemic. We have become more self aware of our actions. And, naturally there were hurdles to get our productions on track again. But, we all tried to lift ourselves up from those obstacles. The most valuable lesson that we learnt from this pandemic is ‘Maximum usage of minimal resource.’
I’ve noticed there are a lot of films on the SFS YouTube channel related to social issues. While I love a movie with a good social message, I know it can also ruffle feathers. Have you, your team members, or any of the filmmakers you’ve worked with (or any films that you’ve produced/directed under your banner) ever encountered or received any backlash?
KA: We started with a tagline/motto: “Better Film For Better Society.” As a result, we lead by example and thus are mostly making shorts with a social message. But, we’ve also made short films related to the liberation war, which has been selected for [the] 21st Dhaka International Film Festival [in] 2023. Thankfully, we didn’t face any backlashes for our works yet. Basically, we all are putting in the work and trying to make and promote our art and culture widely, and from the core of our heart. We are getting support from our audience too and also from other film activists. So, we are currently blessed for all the positive vibes and blessings and these have kept us going!
Monthly film showcase participants attend a screening of Bangladesh’s first animated feature, “Mujib Amar Pita.” (Submitted photo).
I was also curious to know what other genres you might be interested in exploring in the near future?
KA: We are not only focusing on making shorts, we made documentary films also. We have some plans for making new documentary films. And, we are planning on making short films in horror, mystery, romance, and comedy genres and art films shortly. We have some more ongoing productions in various genres in the pipeline.
Lastly, could you share with our readers any details regarding ongoing projects or your plans for SFS going forward?
KA: We are planning something major for our indie community. We are planning a nature film camp for all the indie/professional filmmakers, activists, [and the]filmmaking community. This event will be effective for new learners and professionals wishing to add to their knowledge as well. Through this camp, we will try to find the link between film and art by expressing unity with nature. We hope for a successful result so that everyone will enjoy, learn and teach, and above all, [that]our society will move another step forward in playing a role in the development and expansion of the film industry.
We at The Movie Buff thank Kazi Ashequr Rahaman Sujan for his time, and wish him and the SFS well on their endeavors.
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