Abid’s ‘The Dreaming Vendors’(…Ebong Shaupno Jatree) screened in Film Southasia 11

Sept. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- Ahmed Abid’s documentary on cross coastal trafficking and plight of Rohingya boat people from Burma and Bangladesh,…Ebong Shaupno Jatree, (The Dreaming Vendors), have been screened at the seventh Film South Asia in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 29 at 4.15 pm Hall-II Kumari cinema. Abid and chief assistant director Kazi Salman Sheesh addressed the post screening Q & A session with film critics and audience after the screening.

The 50.30-minute documentary (see http://thedreamingvendorsfilm.com for synopsis) depicts an extra ordinary horrific journey of Kamal and Fazlu, their sufferings and the struggle for survival who only endeavored for a better life in the backdrop of lack of human security. The real life story of the film focused the plight of Rohingyas –the ethnic people from Burma. The documentary narrates the sufferings of the ‘boat people’ and their dream of a better life.

The premiere of the film took place on November 11, 2010 at Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT), Bangkok and Ambassador of Bangladesh H.E. Mr. Kazi Imtiaz Hossain  inaugurated the screening as a special guest and panelist. Michael Miner, Regional Director, Southeast Asia Regional Cooperation in Human Development (SEARCH-CIDA), Phil Robertson, Deputy Director, Asia Division (Human Rights Watch), Musarrat H. Chandan, Executive Producer and Film maker were there on Q & A session as panelists. Around 200 registered guests were present there from different UN bodies, renowned media personalities, legal experts, member of different development agencies. Since the premiere the film attracted the attention of human rights community, scholars, students and film critics around the Asia region.  Especially it was appreciated in the Third Asia Pacific Consultation on Refugee Rights (APCRR3) held in Bangkok at the Bangkok Rama Hotel from 25 to 27 November 2010 which was attended by 117 participants from 22 countries. It has been shown in Cambodia as well and becomes part of academic study in different school in South East Asia.

Film Southasia 2011 is the eighth edition of the festival, a four-day event, opened at 12:00 PM on Thursday, September 29, 2011, with an address by the festival chief guest, Catherine Masud, the eminent Bangladeshi filmmaker. Film South Asia will end on October 2 with the award-giving ceremony.  

Film director Ahmed Abid is available for interviews, please reach him through the film's website http://thedreamingvendorsfilm.com or via email ah.abid@gmail.com.