Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (12)

Festival start: 28 January 2027      Festival end: 30 January 2027

The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) is a unique artistic exploration and social entrepreneurship. It is the pioneer in Bangladesh for arranging a film festival where films are exclusively shot on mobile phones. DIMFF is the bridge that connects filmmakers to the world of storytelling by utilizing new mobile technologies. DIMFF started its journey in 2015 and gradually became an outreach program of the Department of Media Studies and Journalism of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. With each passing year, DIMFF’s popularity is increasing, and filmmakers from around the globe are enjoying this new platform to uphold their voices.

The festival promotes ‘New generation, New tools, New communication.’ DIMFF aims to inspire and spark creativity in storytelling from people with limited income or resources and encourage filmmakers to harness their dreams and recognize the immense possibilities to accomplish them. The Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival is for newness, change, and opportunity. This new generation will establish a new form of communication by overcoming race, color, religion, and ideology with their new tools. DIMFF is the platform where language cannot be a bearer while discussing issues. These young minds need the right opportunity and guidance to make this world better.

DIMFF’s lookout towards building youth entrepreneurship skills has helped them achieve 25th rank in the Entrepreneurial Spirit category of WURI 2022. World’s universities with real impact (WURI) is the first global innovative university ranking designed to inspire and value universities’ adaptable and innovative efforts to nurture their workforce that meets industry and society’s demands. Wharton–Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) also recognized DIMFF with the Social Science Silver Award in the Reimagine Education Awards and Conference 2021, otherwise known as the “Oscars of Education.” The Wharton-QS Reimagine Education Awards and Conference is a global competition and conference that encourages educators to spot problems that prevent optimal learning and pedagogical outcomes. DIMFF shares the same mindset: everyone deserves equal opportunity to create a sustainable impact in their community.


1.OPEN DOOR CATEGORY for all

Anyone from any region can submit films shot on a mobile phone/camera. Any duration can be submitted in the Open Door category. Selected films will be screened at Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, and the best film will get DIMFF Best Film Award.


2.VERTICAL FILM CATEGORY for all

Anyone from any region can submit films shot vertically on a mobile phone/camera. The film must be within 10 minutes for the Vertical Film category. Selected films will be screened at Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, and the best film will get DIMFF Best Vertical Film Award.


3.SHORT FILM CATEGORY for university students

This category is open to Undergraduate and Graduate students only. Selected films either shot on mobile phone/camera will screen at the festival, and the best film will receive the ‘CinemaScope Best Film’ award. The film must be within 25 minutes for the Short Film category.


4.CITIZEN JOURNALISM CATEGORY for all

Anyone from any region can participate in this category. Documentaries (real-world events) must be shot on a mobile phone and within 10 minutes. Selected documentaries will be screened at the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, and the best documentary will win the 'MSJ Best CJ' award.


5.ONE MINUTE CATEGORY for grade 1 to 12 students

Only 1 to 12 grade students can participate in this category. The film must be exactly one minute, including the title and credit line for the One Minute category. Selected films will be screened at Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, and the best film will get the ULAB Young Film Maker Award.

Cash Prizes: 1,290$

1. Open Door: Anyone from any region can submit films shot on a mobile phone/camera or both. Selected films will be screened at the festival, and the best film will get the ‘DIMFF Best Film’ award.

2. Short Film: This category is open to Undergraduate and Graduate students only. Selected films, either shot on a mobile phone/camera or both, will screen at the festival, and the best film will receive the ‘CinemaScope Best Film’ award.

3. Vertical Film: Anyone from any region can submit films shot vertically on a mobile phone/camera. Selected films will be screened at the festival, and the best film will get the ‘DIMFF Best Vertical Film’ award.

4. Citizen Journalism: Anyone from any region can participate in this category. Documentaries (real-world events) must be shot on a mobile phone and within 10 minutes. Selected documentaries will be screened at the Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival, and the best documentary will win the 'MSJ Best CJ' award.

5. One Minute: This category is open to students in grades 1 to 12. Selected films will be screened at the festival, and the best film will receive the ‘ULAB Young Filmmaker' award.

Participant rules:

1. The directors/makers of the films/stories can be individuals or groups (a maximum of 4 people).

2. Only the directors/makers can submit their films.

3. For the One Minute Category, the participant must be a grade 1 to 12 student with a student identity card valid till 31st March 2027.

4. Each participant may submit up to 2 films/stories.

5. Films/stories screened or participated in other festivals/competitions are also welcome.

6. Films/stories submitted in previous seasons of DIMFF will not be accepted.


Film rules:

1. For Citizen Journalism and One Minute categories, films and stories must be shot on a mobile phone (cell phone or smartphone). The phone’s brand, model, and operating system are not restricted.

2. Multiple mobile phones can be used in a shooting.

3. Additional equipment is allowed, including (but not limited to) external microphones, lenses, lighting tools, and tripods.

4. All films/stories must be submitted in .mov/.avi/.mp4 format.

5. The use of computer animation/VFX/AI must not exceed 30% of the total duration.

6. Stop motion animation using mobile phone cameras is acceptable.

7. In post-production, any device or software may be used for video and audio editing, colour correction, and special effects.

8. Any duration can be submitted in the Open Door category.

9. The film must be within 20 minutes for the Short Film category.

10. The film must be within 10 minutes for the Vertical Film
category.

11. The film must be within 10 minutes for the Citizen Journalism category.

12. For the One Minute category, the film must be exactly one minute, including the title and credit line.

13. English subtitles are mandatory and should be merged with the visual.

14. There is no restriction regarding the theme or topic. All genres are welcome.

15. Use of any copyrighted materials is prohibited unless written permission.

16. Nudity, profanity, extreme violence, or racist content is not allowed.

17. DIMFF will preserve the right to archive, publish and use submitted materials for academic, commercial, and non-commercial purposes.

18. Films must be completed after the 1st of January 2024.


Deadline and submission:

1. No entry fee is required for students.

2. The submission deadline is September 24, 2026.

3. Late submission will cost USD 30 (Open Door Category), USD 20 (Vertical Film Category), USD 15 (Short Film Category), USD 10 (Citizen Journalism Category) and USD 5 (One Minute Category). No submission will be allowed after October 24, 2026.

4. Submission will be accepted by Festhome only. Please use this site link for film/story submission.

5. After primary selection, you will be asked to submit a two-minutes (maximum) video of the making of the film/story (behind the scene), the film/story poster, director’s/maker’s photograph and biography, a scanned copy of both sides of the student identity card (for Short Film and One Minute category only), and a scanned copy of the Birth Certificate/National ID/Passport.

6. Behind-the-scenes footage must contain sufficient proof that your film was shot only with a mobile phone camera (category specific). The director/maker should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using a mobile phone to shoot the film/story.


Judgment processes:

1. The Acceptance notification will be emailed on December 24, 2026.

2. The organizers may disqualify a film or story if they have reason to believe that it does not comply with the competition’s terms and conditions.

3. For the 'Outstanding Talent' award, the Jury Panel will carefully evaluate all official selection films and nominate a crew member who has demonstrated exceptional work.

4. Selected films/stories will be screened at the festival venues on January 29 & 30, 2027.

5. DIMFF reserves the right to withdraw the awards at any time if there is a formal complaint regarding violating intellectual property rights or festival rules.