Rebooting the screening activity in Bangladesh.

　There was a movie delivery that took place for 2 consecutive days (11^th & 12^th Sep. 2024) in Bangladesh for the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic.

・Date： 11th & 12th Sep. 2024 ・Area：Bandarban district of Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh ・Place：Kitchen & Dining room of Kinitheu School (boarding school for elementary students)  ・Number of screening：2 times (2 nights) ・Films：“FLY” “Komaneko -the first step-” “good night” ・Number of Participants： 40 students ・Age of children：6-12 years old

● Place of screening is a boarding school run by Ms. Natsumi Harada

　In Bangladesh, Natsumi Harada who continues providing educational support via NPO ChotoBela woks also participates in World Theater Project as a leader for movie delivery since 2018.  Kinitheu School, which is run by Ms. Harada, is located in Bandarban district where the entry is strictly controlled especially for foreigners since its continued complicated situations.  Now, here is the screening report along with the pictures and actual words from students.

　It was the second time opportunity for current 5^th graders to join in the film screening since 2019 at Kinitheu School. 

　“Kinitheu School is a boarding school for elementary students. Leaving from their parents, 5 to 12 year-old students are living here to receive the education.  There is no waterworks system nor electricity distribution at Kinitheu School and the surrounding area.  However, they can receive the internet signal at the certain part of school primacy, but the signal interruption by the government or the army may happen occasionally. ”  

　“They could feel more immersed because this is the first time screening at night.”

　There are only a few chances to watch movies for the students at Kinitheu School.  At “the Activity Class”, the students watch a singing and dancing movie as an example via a teacher’s smartphone.  Thus, there are a lot of voices saying “we need more opportunities to watch movie contents.” to Ms. Harada.

　“In this time, we wanted children to feel and learn a lot of things from the short length animation “FLY”.  We thought it would be nice to have children interpret scene by scene and receive its message.  Also, we wanted to teach a way of movie making just like how “good night” was made.”

＊“good night” is a hand-drawn illustration 2D animation film.

● Thoughts from children

● A new collaboration to the movie delivery

　Actually in this time, members of Ruwang Collective Arts who have a very close relationship with Ms. Harada actuated this non- theatrical project.  The activities are established by the university students from an ethnic minority group living in Chittagong Hill Tracts.  They have a similar philosophy from WTP, and launched the project named “Cine CHT (Chittagong Hill Tracts)” to deliver film works to the minority groups.

　Let us also share with you the thoughts from the 2 members from Cine CHT who had delivered the films to Kinitheu School.  

Snighdha, Student at Pathshala South Asian Media Institute 　We organized a film screening in Kinitheu School, transforming a hostel room and dining & kitchen room into an improvised theater. The big screen felt magical to them, and they shouted with joy when the films started, they fell into an absorbed silence as they watched. The students were full of excitement and curiosity, laughing as animated characters came to life on screen. They eagerly tried to identify the animals in the films, sharing the experience with their friends. Although managing without electricity was a challenge, the shared effort paid off as we enjoyed time together, filled with laughter. We showcased simple, funny cartoon animations and two inspiring short films. While the students were too shy to answer our questions afterward.

Paddmini, Student at Pathshala South Asian Media Institute 　The film screening at Kinitheu turned out to be an incredible experience. From the moment the films started, I could see how excited the students were, and it was clear that they really enjoyed themselves. What struck me as the most important part of the event, though, was the learning process that unfolded naturally. The films didn’t just entertain̶they sparked curiosity and encouraged the students to think in new ways. They were learning while having fun, and I believe that’s what made the screening truly meaningful. One thing I noticed about the students is how shy they tend to be, especially when meeting new people. This screening provided a unique way to connect with them. It wasn’t just about watching films together; it was a way to break the ice, open up communication, and make them feel comfortable in a group setting. The screening served as a bridge, helping us reach out to the students and start conversations that might not have happened otherwise. It became more than just an event̶it was a way to create connections and share ideas in a fun and relaxed environment.

　We will cooperate with Ms. Harada and members of Ruwang Collective Arts to to continue delivering films to children in Bangladesh from now on. 

　Next time in Bangladesh, we plan to report to you on the 6^th Chittagong Hill Tracts Film Festival held around the New Year holiday season 2024.

　We are looking for your support in order to deliver more films to children in Bangladesh as well. 

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　World Theater Project is seeking the Gift Cinema members who can deliver films to children in developing countries.

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