I recently returned from a trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh where I was a featured filmmaker (and only American) in the 12th Dhaka International Film Festival (who knew?). After a grueling 24 hour journey to get there I was treated like royalty by the host committee.

It was a whirlwind week of showing films, seeing films, attending parties, sightseeing, talking with international filmmakers and teaching a class for college film students. In the middle of the week I showed my film, “Forgiving Dr. Mengele,” which seemed to affect the people there very deeply (since they went through their own genocide in the early 70’s).

I also met filmmakers from Iran, China, Japan, Australia, India and, of course, Bangladesh. Altogether, not bad for an off week.