Comparing the 9th festival (which runs from December 22 to 30) with earlier ones, Morshed said this festival creates a new kind of audience. This is due to the fact, he said, when the Short Film Festival began in Bangladesh in the early 80s, the situation was such that some good films could be made like Shurjo Dhigol Bari (Moshiuddin Shakir and Niamat Ali being the filmmakers, and it was released in 1979). These films couldn't be released in the cinema halls at that time. Even when they were released, Morshed said, they got a brief exposure, as they were allowed to run only for a stipulated period.

"Under those conditions, the short films, in an alternative manner, done in 16 mm, were distributed differently. Now the situation is much better because two decades have elapsed and we are able to release our films in the local cinema halls and they run for a while," Morshed said, "These include films like Matir Moina by Tareque Masud and my own two films, Dipu No 2 and Dukhai. Today, the owners of cinema halls are eager to release such feature films in 35 mm. Hence there is a change in the situation; the contemporary audience in the festival is the result of the Short Film movement. The Short Film Festival plays an important role too for filmmakers like myself."

Dwelling on the problems that he faced during his work, Morshed said that when he and his contemporaries began making short films in the '80s, there was no video or digital media. He said that they had to make films in 16 mm and now, when the video media is available, unfortunately the new generation is not coming forward to make such films. The young makers, he said, seek quick bucks and because the tele-films are more popular, they become preoccupied with directing mega-serials for the small screen.

"They are not interested in making serious short films which I think is unfortunate," he said.

Regarding the festival, he added, that when they had begun the festival in the '80s, the festival was lively and bursting with enthusiasm. He said that the festival, with each year gets more films and has more purchasing power. Earlier, he stressed, the film-makers had little money at their beck and call but they had more "guts and gumption." According to him, "The short film movement is definitely on the decline."

Morshedul Islam made the first Bangladeshi short film called Agami and that was the beginning of the movement. After that he made Chaka in 1993. His latest project is Khela Ghor.