Jointly hosted by Bangladesh Film Achieve (BFA) and University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Franco-Bangladeshi Filmmaker Amirul Arham will share his thoughts on “Documentaries, Film Language and the International Perspective” on November 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the main auditorium of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). 

Before his talk, Mr. Arham will screen his 53-minute film “The Devil’s Water.”  The film “tells the story of three young women whose lives have been adversely affected by arsenic poisoning.  Asma and Nazma are two sisters who have lost their mother to arsenic poisoning, and both suffer serious complications from arsenic themselves.  Rekha is a young mother who has been rejected by her husband because of her illness, and is struggling to raise her son.  The film captures the personal accounts of their tragedy and loss, set against the backdrop of scientists who examine the cause and effect of the arsenic contamination and attempt to discover a solution.”

The film has been shown in French and European Television Networks.  It has also been exhibited in numerous film festivals such as the Silverdoc Film Festival Washington, International Water and Film Event (Mexico), Festival International Grand Reportage d’Actualite (France), FAIF International Film Festival (USA), Bogota International Film Festival (Columbia) and Festival International du Film d’Ariques et des Iles (Reunion).  The film won best documentary in the Terra Festival in Guadeloupe and the Star of the SCAM award in France.  The film depicts “what happens when water – the most precious of natural resources – turns deadly.  It is intended to draw worldwide attention to the humanitarian and environmental crisis that arsenic water poisoning poses to both Bangladesh and other afflicted countries around the world.”

Mr. Arham’s visit will be beneficial for ULAB’s Media Studies and Journalism students, particularly those with a study concentration in Digital Production. At present, the department has 180 students.