Bangladesh Film Archive BFA

History and Founding

The Bangladesh Film Archive (BFA) was established on 17 May 1978 as the Film Institute and Archive under the Ministry of Information. It was renamed the Bangladesh Film Archive in 1984 and simultaneously transformed into an independent institution. BFA became a member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF) in 1980. For its first four decades, the archive operated from rented premises until the construction of a purpose-built facility in Agargaon, Dhaka, inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 1 November 2018 at a cost of approximately Tk 86 crore.

Collections and Holdings

The Bangladesh Film Archive houses one of the most significant collections of South Asian cinema. As of the early 2020s, the archive holds approximately 3,200 films, of which around 900 are foreign productions, plus over 5,100 books. The broader collection includes extensive screenplays, song books, posters, still photographs, documentary films, news reels, and paper cuttings. Notable preserved works include internationally acclaimed films such as Eisenstein's The Battleship Potemkin, Kurosawa's Rashomon, and Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali, alongside films documenting Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War.

Media and Journalism-Related Materials

The archive holds approximately 9,887 magazines and 12,200 newspaper clippings, providing researchers with historical press coverage of Bangladeshi cinema and culture. Its documentary film holdings, including newsreels, document the development of Bangladeshi society and media.

Access and Usage

The archive is open to students, teachers, researchers, and filmmakers. Modern facilities include film scanning systems, a 300-seat projection hall, an auditorium, a seminar room, a library, a film museum, and a multi-purpose hall. Free film screenings are held every Thursday. The archive also implements film appreciation courses and organizes film festivals.