Laboni Akter

Laboni Akter (alias Laboni Ashrafi) is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Bengali Language & Literature at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. She holds an MA and BA in Bangla Language & Literature from the University of Dhaka and a PGD in Filmmaking from Bangladesh Cinema & Television Institute.

An emerging academician and creative professional, Akter has produced, written, and directed award-winning films and received research fellowships. Her research interests encompass Cinema Studies, Cinematic Realism, Gender Politics, Indigenous Studies, Diaspora Studies, and Ecofeminism. Akter has authored two books and several articles on Feminist Film Theory, South Asian Cinema, and Ethnic Language & Literature.

She is currently investigating the role of matrilineal society in preserving indigenous culture among the Garo community in Bangladesh, funded by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Her work on indigenous studies and medieval studies has been invited to the IAHR conference in Poland and Medieval Congress in London. Akter is the convenor of the 1st BLL Students' Conference at ULAB, focusing on interdisciplinary socio-cultural studies.

Describing herself as a 'visual poet', Akter's films explore the social and psychological conditions of women. A feminist and women's rights advocate, she uses her filmmaking to examine women's societal status, rights, and challenges to their emancipation.

PGD, Filmmaking (Screenplay Writing & Direction), Bangladesh Cinema & Television Institute (BCTI) 
MA, Bangla, University of Dhaka
BA, Bangla, University of Dhaka 

Film & Media Studies, Gender Politics, Indigenous Studies, Cultural Studies, Ecofeminism.

Research

1. ‘বাংলাদেশের চলচ্চিত্রে সাহিত্যের রূপান্তর ও প্রাসঙ্গিকতা’
   Fellowship by Bangladesh Film Archive (BFA) on 2019-20.
2. ‘তিতাস একটি নদীর নাম ও সূর্য দীঘল বাড়ি চলচ্চিত্রে নারীবাদী অস্তিত্বের পুনর্পাঠ’
   Fellowship by Bangladesh Film Archive (BFA) on 2021-22.

Awards

1. Research & Development Grant for ‘My Mother Can Sing but She Doesn’t’, 
   Exposition of Young Film Talents, Liberation War Museum, 2022. 
2. Best Independent Short Award for ‘Chakrabyuha’,
   16th International Short & Independent Film Festival, Dhaka 2022.
3. Special Mention Award & Best Director Award for ‘Chakrabyuha’,
   Cinemaking International Film Festival 2022, Dhaka.
4. Jury Festival Mention Award for ‘Chakrabyuha’,
   Global Youth Film Festival 2021, Natore.
5. Best Film Award for ‘Chakrabyuha’
   BLAST Short Film Competition 2021, Dhaka.

Filmmaking Experience

Producer

1. ‘Ama’ni A’song’, Ongoing, Documentary.
2. ‘My Mother Can Sing But She Doesn’t’, 2025, Documentary, 57:10 min.

Director

1. ‘My Mother Can Sing But She Doesn’t’, 2025, Documentary, 57:10 min;
2. ‘Porobashee’, 2022, Short Fiction, 33:30 min;
3. ‘The Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm’, 2022 | Short Documentary, 12:00 min;
4. ‘Choukath’, 2022 | Short Fiction, 12:00 min;
5. ‘Chakrabyuha’, 2021 | Short Fiction, 8:31;
6. ‘A Night’, 2020 | Short Fiction, 4:31 min;
7. ‘Droupodi Akhyan’, 2019 | Short Fiction, 5:37 min;
8. ‘Brihonnola’, 2018 | Short Documentary, 15:00 min.

1. Panel Discussion, Film Fiesta Take 3, 19 July 2025.
2. Panel Discussion, “The Road Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges for Women Filmmakers in Bangladesh”, 2nd Women's Lens International Short Film Festival 2024, 23 September 2024.
3. Panel Discussion, “Cultural Politics: Regarding Cinema”, July Ganoparishar, 6 September 2024.
4. Meet the Director, Contemporary Independent Film Session, Bangladesh Short Film Forum, 28 June 2024.
5. Panel Discussion, “Facing Gender Discrimination: Filmmakers’ Views and Generation”, Action Aid, 8 December 2022.

1. “Exploring Epic Form in Cinema: A Linguistic Analysis of ‘Chandrabati Katha’” [Bengali]. Bangladesh Cinema & Television Institute Journal, No. 14. (December 2025).
2. “Subaltern Narratives in Bhanubil: A Critical Analysis of Colonial Exploitation, Resistance, and Identity” [Bengali]. Trisangam International Refereed Journal, Volume: V, Issue: V. ISSN: 2583-0848. (October 2025).
3. “Women's life and world in the films of Bangladeshi women filmmakers” [Bengali]. Bangladesh Cinema & Television Institute Journal, No. 12. (June 2023). 
4. “Did Satyajit fall in love with Kanchenjunga?” [Bengali]. Prothom Alo. (May 2023). https://www.prothomalo.com/onnoalo/fawik4nw0n
5. “The grey world of Kiarostami and Jibanananda” [Bengali]. Irabotee, Festival Edition: Cinema. (October 2021). https://irabotee.com/puja-2021-film-article-laboni-ashrafi/
6. “‘Human civilization moves forward by drinking mother's blood’ — Mother archetype and mythological rebel women in Ritwik's films” [Bengali]. Irabotee. (June 2020).
7. “Robert Bresson and his films” [Bengali]. Teerandaz, Festival Edition (2020).
8. ‘This is the way the light shines, this is the way the world will be free’ – Cinema and some words” [Bengali]. Akaalbodhon, Cinema Edition, Sub Editorial. (21 June 2020).
9. “Memoir: Mohiuddin Faroque” [Bengali]. Akaalbodhon, Cinema Edition. (21 June 2020).

1. ‘Reinterpretation of feminist existence in the films of Titas Ekti Naadir Naam & Surja Dighal Bari’, Bangladesh Film Archive (BFA), 2023; (ISBN: 978-984-97778-0-9).
2. ‘Adaptation & pertinence of literature in Bangladeshi Cinema’, Bangladesh Film Archive (BFA), 2020; (ISBN: 978-984-94910-2-6).

1. “A Subaltern Study of ‘Dhanua Toto's Discourses: The Life and Culture of the Toto Indigenous Community”. Ed. Naskar, Dr. Prasenjit, Pramanik, Dr. Mrityunjay.

1. ‘সত্যজিৎ কি কাঞ্চনজঙ্ঘার প্রেমে পড়েছিলেন?’ Published on Prothom Alo, on 2 May 2023. 
2. ‘কিয়ারোস্তামি ও জীবনানন্দের ধূসর জগত’ Published on Irabotee, Festival Edition: Cinema, 22 October 2021. 
3. ‘রবের ব্রেসঁ ও তার চলচ্চিত্র’ Published on Teerandaz, Festival Edition 2020. 
4. ‘এ পথেই আলো জ্বেলে এ পথেই পৃথিবীর ক্রমমুক্তি হবে – সিনেমা এবং কিছু কথা’ Published on Akaalbodhon, Sub Editorial, Cinema Edition, 21 June 2020. 
5. ‘বোধনঃ মহিউদ্দিন ফারুক’ Published on Akaalbodhon, Cinema Edition, 21 June 2020.

1. “The Serpent's Echo: Reading Lilith and Manasa as Repetitions of the Rebel Archetype from Medieval Myth to Modern Poetry”, International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds, London, 6-9 July 2026.
2. “The Sangsarek Religion and Ecological Knowledge: The Environmental Renewal of the Mande Society”, Planet LangLit 2026: International Conference on Language, Literature and Cultural Studies, Green University of Bangladesh, Dhaka. 15-16 January 2026.
3. “Foucault and Subaltern Studies in ‘Rarang’ and ‘Bhanubil’: The Discourse of Resistance in the Colonial Power Structure and Oriental Theatrical Tradition”, International Conference 2025, Comilla University, Comilla. 26-27 November 2025.
4. “The Role of Women in Preserving Folk Knowledge and Biodiversity: Reflections from Literature and Society”, 4th BSSCR Conference, Comilla University, Comilla. 15-17 October 2025
5. “Language, Religion, and Beliefs of the Mandi People: The Conflict of Tradition and Modernity”, XXIII Quinquennial World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. 22-31 August 2025.
6. Panel Chair: Tribal and gender identities in South Asia II, XXIII Quinquennial World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR), Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. 22-31 August 2025.
7. “Film reading through women's eyes”, Conference on Women Filmmakers’ Journey, 36 Years Celebration of Bangladesh Short Film Forum Program. 2021.

1. Film in Literature
2. Ethnic Language & Literature
3. World Literature: Latin America, Europe and African
4. Bangla Poem: Colonial and Liberation Period
5. Short Stories: Comparative Study of World Literature
6. Cinema and New Media: Theory and Practice