The first line: Inside ‘22’ exhibition
22 creators, one mentor with a vision to see beyond perfected pieces. We are used to seeing final artworks—paintings, frames, and films that appear whole and effortless. We see the final conclusion of an artist's tangled mind. But only an artist knows the tangled path behind them: the first spark of inspiration, the hesitation between decisions, the unexpected details that emerge unplanned, and the relentless revisions that eventually shape what we admire.
On November 21, La Galerie at Alliance Française de Dhaka opened its doors to the public for the inauguration of "22 — Step Inside the Making of a Dream". The exhibition, which runs from November 21 to November 29, invites visitors into the intimate and often unseen beginnings of animated storytelling—before the polish, before the frames move, before the films exist.
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"22" marks the conclusion of the Animation Short Film Development Workshop, held during the June–August 2025 session. Twenty participants enrolled through an open call, while two were selected for their merit and creative footprints. Guided by filmmaker Afroza Hossain Sara, they shaped 22 distinct development-stage animated concepts.
Sara, director of the internationally recognised short film "Song of Whales", designed the workshop as a reflective, process-driven space. She encouraged participants to look inward, to locate the personal truths at the heart of their stories.
"My question was: what did I do right to get international attention, and what did I do wrong that still leaves me unsatisfied?" she reflects while talking to The Daily Star. "I tried to pass on everything I learned—successes and mistakes alike."
Across 20 sessions, the participants explored the foundation of animation development: truth-based ideation, scriptwriting, pitching materials, storyboarding, style exploration, character and world building, concept art, production strategy, budgeting, and the small but essential skills that help a story take root.
"The participants surprised me with their ability to broaden their horizons in every class," she says. "The 20 sessions flew by, leaving behind a mark of self-acceptance through the stories they crafted."
Although each participant completed all required components, the exhibition curates their work by highlighting individual strengths—whether in character design, visualisation, sketchbook ideation, or conceptual foundations.
"The aim is to highlight what they can already do beautifully while making them aware of where they need support," Sara explains. "Animation thrives in teamwork."
Walking through La Galerie, visitors encounter ducklings searching for belonging, intergenerational secrets, psychological spirals, mythic dreamscapes—each expressed through rough sketches, colour tests, visual notes, and early compositions.
Participant Rakeeb Razzaq speaks fondly of Sara's mentorship, "I think Sara apu is one of the coolest filmmakers around here. We learned so much about direction, production, timeline, scriptwriting, storyboards and many more, which helped us a lot. She was always there, sharing her experiences and helping us find our stories. A very cool person with lots of knowledge."
By the third day, Sara's initial worry—that audiences might not connect with unfinished work—had faded. Viewers lingered over sketchbooks and pinned drawings, imagining the animated worlds they might become.
"They're enjoying the little sparks," she says with relief. "Even though many works are just rough sketches, they're connecting because each carries the heart of a story."
As "22 — Step Inside the Making of a Dream" continues till November 29, it stands not as a gallery of completed films but as a testament to how imagination begins—tentative, vulnerable, intimate, and full of possibility.
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