Understanding Urban Reality | Filmy SHALA 4

SHALA_Neighbourhood Art Space hosted an intimate evening of critical reflection and visual storytelling on April 19 through its event Filmy_SHALA 4, spotlighting three short films that explore the evolving dynamics of urban life in Bangladesh. The screening featured: Rural to Urban Migration in Bangladesh (2024) Fantasy in a Concrete Jungle (2023) Raven (2024) Directed by Sayed Minhaz Ahmed, Mehedi Mostafa, and Zayed Siddiki respectively, each film brought forward different lenses on the urban experience — from internal migration and dislocation to the psychological weight of the built environment. Following the screenings, the filmmakers joined an open discussion with the audience, reflecting on the themes of urban transformation, memory, belonging, and displacement. The dialogue bridged personal experiences with broader socio-political contexts, shedding light on how the city shapes — and is shaped by — the lives within it. The event drew viewers from diverse backgrounds including students, artists, researchers, and community members, all engaging in meaningful conversation about the everyday challenges and overlooked nuances of Dhaka’s urban reality. With Filmy_SHALA, SHALA continues its commitment to building community through critical art practices and storytelling that foreground local perspectives and lived experiences.