Inspired by Naeem Mohaiemen’s book “Midnight’s Third Child” (Nokta, Dhaka; 2023) and his exploration of Bangladesh’s cultural identity as existing in a ‘third space’ – neither fully aligned with dominant postcolonial narratives nor confined to traditional boundaries – this project  aims to create sustained dialogue around contemporary Bangladeshi moving image practice.

Call for Works

We are seeking artists’ moving image works from Bangladesh and global Bangladeshi diaspora that navigate between local-global, traditional-modern, and personal-political territories.

We are particularly interested in:

• Works that act as cultural caregivers, preserving stories that might otherwise be forgotten; excavating hidden histories; or creating counter-archives of Bangladeshi experience.
• Works that map Bangladesh’s changing landscapes – physical, cultural, urban, rural – with particular attention to climate change, displacement, and environmental transformation
• Works that challenge dominant narratives, speak back to power, or create space for voices typically excluded from official histories.

We welcome works in all their complexity – contemplative, urgent, poetic, political. We’re interested in how you see, remember, and reimagine Bangladesh and its stories.

Eligibility:
Artists of Bangladeshi origin or heritage, whether based in Bangladesh or as part of the global Bangladeshi diaspora

• Works completed from 2015 onwards
• Single screen works including documentary, experimental, animation, essay film, video art
• Duration up to 30 minutes
• Submit up to 3 works per person

For selected works we will offer screening fees, public exhibition in Bangladesh and UK and online presentation along with mentoring and workshop activities. 

Submit here via google form by 15 December 2025

To find out more and ask questions you can also join an online discussion group with the curators on Friday 5 December 7PM 

This project emerges from collaborative research between curators Kehkasha Sabah (Bangladesh) and Benjamin Cook (UK) which aims to create sustained dialogue around contemporary Bangladeshi moving image practice and is supported by British Council Bangladesh through the Connections Through Culture programme and the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation.

Book cover Image by Ali Morshed Noton, courtesy of Tareque Masud Memorial Trust; pictured (l to r): Tareque Masud (1956-2011), Dhali Al Mamoon (1958-), unknown, Syed Sajjad Hossain Jyoti (1959-missing 1993), Mishuk Munier (1959-2011); during filming of Masud’s ‘Adam Surat’ (1989) on artist S M Sultan (1923-1994), at Audiovision office, Lalmatia, 1986.