The Department of Television, Film, and Photography (TFP) at the University of Dhaka has celebrated its 14th anniversary by honouring the burgeoning talent of its student body. During a ceremony held on Tuesday afternoon, nineteen students were presented with the ‘2nd TFP Creative Excellence Awards 2025’ in recognition of their outstanding contributions to filmmaking and broadcast journalism.
Celebrating Fourteen Years of Creative Pedagogy
The awards ceremony served as the cornerstone of the department’s founding day celebrations. Established over a decade ago to bridge the gap between academic theory and the practical demands of the media industry, the TFP department has fast become a hub for the nation’s next generation of visual storytellers.
This year’s competition saw a significant increase in engagement, with 129 submissions ranging from short fiction films and documentaries to investigative news reports. A prestigious jury board—comprising some of the country’s most celebrated directors, producers, cinematographers, film critics, scriptwriters, and veteran journalists—was tasked with the rigorous selection process.
The Selection and Exhibition Process
Following an initial screening, the jury shortlisted 41 entries across 19 distinct categories. Throughout the day-long event at the Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium, 26 selected films were screened for students, faculty, and industry professionals, showcasing the technical proficiency and thematic depth of the students’ work.
| Competition Metric | Figures |
| Total Submissions | 129 |
| Initially Nominated Works | 41 |
| Award Categories | 19 |
| Final Award Recipients | 19 |
| Films Screened at Event | 26 |
Academic and Industry Synergy
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of Dhaka University, Professor Mamun Ahmed, attended as the Chief Guest. In his address, he lauded the department’s ability to create a “creative corridor” between the classroom and the professional world. “In just 14 years, the TFP department has shown remarkable success in fostering industry-academia connections,” Professor Ahmed remarked. He further pledged the university’s continued support to enhance the department’s educational infrastructure.
Sayyid Shahzada Al Karim, Chairman of the TFP department, echoed these sentiments in his presidential speech. He emphasised that the awards were designed to bolster “creative self-confidence” among students. He noted that with adequate funding and resources, the department is poised to transform Dhaka University into a global epicentre for creative excellence and world-class media education.
By providing a platform for critical recognition, the TFP Creative Excellence Awards continue to validate the artistic labour of students, ensuring that the future of Bangladeshi cinema and journalism remains in capable, visionary hands.