Join us...
BANGLADESH FILM NIGHT
Bangladesh Film Night at the KTOWN International Film Festival is a special cultural showcase dedicated to celebrating the creativity, history, and global potential of Dhallywood. This signature evening highlights one of Bangladesh’s most acclaimed films—often including the country’s official Oscar submission—presented on a prestigious Los Angeles stage for both the local Bangladeshi community and international audiences.
The event features red-carpet arrivals, filmmaker introductions, and an in-depth conversation about Bangladesh’s cinematic evolution and its growing impact worldwide. By inviting Oscar voters, industry professionals, and cultural leaders, Bangladesh Film Night creates a powerful platform for international recognition, cross-cultural exchange, and new opportunities for future collaborations.
It is more than a screening—it is a celebration of national pride, storytelling, and the bridge between Dhaka and Hollywood, establishing an annual tradition that honors Bangladesh’s presence in the global film landscape.
Majib Siddiquee serves on the KTOWN IFF Executive Team as the International Program Co-Director for our global film community initiative. In this role, he will help introduce the world of Dhallywood cinema to the festival, creating creative and educational opportunities for students and industry professionals from Bangladesh. He will also lead and oversee Bangladesh Film Night during our festival week.
Majib Siddiquee played a key role as a representative of the Bangladeshi community during the proposal to the City of Los Angeles to officially establish “Little Bangladesh” within the broader Koreatown district. His leadership and advocacy helped ensure that the cultural identity, contributions, and needs of the Bangladeshi population were recognized in the city’s planning and designation process. Since then, he has continued his commitment to community advancement by founding the nonprofit organization Little Bangladesh Improvements, an initiative dedicated to strengthening the neighborhood’s visibility, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting local residents and businesses. Through programs focused on cultural engagement, economic development, beautification, and community representation, Siddiquee’s work has played an important role in helping Bangladeshi Angelenos gain a more defined presence and voice within Los Angeles.
The Bangladeshi film industry, known as Dhallywood, is a medium-sized national cinema serving a population of nearly 170 million. At its peak in the 1990s and early 2000s, the industry produced around 80 films per year, but production has since declined to fewer than 30 films annually. With approximately 190 screens across the country, Bangladesh’s limited exhibition infrastructure restricts total box-office revenue, which is projected to reach around US$60 million by 2025. Despite these constraints, the broader media and entertainment sector—spanning television, streaming, and music—represents more than US$1 billion in investment. In recent years, Dhallywood has begun a modest revival, driven by improved film quality, emerging directors, and growing OTT platforms, though it continues to face challenges such as limited budgets, outdated distribution models, and a shrinking number of active theaters.
Bangladesh Film
"Dhallywood Rising: The New Growth Wave in Bangladesh’s Film Industry"
The Bangladesh film market has been experiencing steady growth in recent years, driven by rising audience interest, expanding digital platforms, and increasing international recognition. With a young population and rapid urban development, the demand for diverse entertainment content—especially locally produced films and streaming content—continues to rise. Bangladeshi filmmakers are gaining attention at global festivals, and improvements in production quality, government support, and foreign collaborations are helping strengthen the industry’s global reach. As the market modernizes, Bangladesh is emerging as one of South Asia’s most promising and fast-growing film sectors.
The Bangladesh film industry is growing steadily, supported by a young audience and rising digital platforms. The country currently has around 190 theaters nationwide, and although annual film production has dropped to fewer than 30 films per year, major releases still perform well—such as Toofan (2024), which earned about Tk 15 crore at the box office. Overall investment in Bangladesh’s entertainment sector is estimated at Tk 120 billion, and the digital/home-entertainment market reached US$48 million in 2024, showing strong potential for future expansion and international collaborations.