Dhaka: A four day long animation film festival tilted 'Microsoft Animation Film festival 2017' will begin on Monday at TSC auditorium of Dhaka University (DU).

Dhaka University Film Society (DUFS) will organize the animation festival to popularize the animated films in the country, sponsored by Microsoft Bangladesh.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid will attend the inaugural ceremony as chief guest while vice-chancellor of DU AAMS Arefin Siddique will preside over the session.

Prominent cartoonist Shishir Bhattacharjee, chairman of Television, Film and Photography Department of DU Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan and Country Manager of Microsoft Bangladesh Sonia Bashir Kabir will be present as special guests at the opening ceremony.

President of the film society S M Arif Rayhan Shovon will coordinate and run the presentation program in the inaugural ceremony.

International Affairs Secretary of DUFS Mahmudul Hasan Jewel said "DUFS is going to organize a film festival showcasing the most amazing animation films from all over the world for our very own viewers. This Festival is an attempt to recognize the progress and development we have seen in the arena of 'Animation Film Making' and at the same time to point the need to promote and endorse the animation media in Bangladesh. This year, in the third edition of this event we have come again with amazing collection of animated feature films and short films to show in big screen."

A total of 16 animated films will be screened during the four-day festival from March 20-23.  The entry is fixed at Tk 30 for every show.

Separate from the screening part of the festival, a discussion programme on 'Prospects of Animation in Bangladesh Film Industry' will be held on March 29 at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban.