Film Societies The producers, directors, actors, technicians, distributors and exhibitors form associations to safeguard their professional interests. In the sub-continent, the first such association - the Indian Film Society - was formed in 1932. In 1938, the industry's commercial operators established the Bengal Film Society in calcutta. In 1939, another association - the All Bengal Film Society - was set up in Calcutta. In 1940, the cine journalists of Calcutta formed their own society. This society pioneered the introduction of film awards.

After Partition of Bengal in 1947, the distributors and exhibitors of this region formed the East Pakistan Film Society in dhaka. Another such association - the East Bengal Film Society - was established in 1952. In these efforts leadership was provided by Mirza Abdul Kader Sardar, Iftekharul Alam, Captain Zaidi, Abu Naser Ahmed, Labiuddin Siddiqui, Abrar Siddiqui, Captain Ehtesham and Fazle Dossani. A number of producers' societies were formed after the creation of the Film Development Corporation (FDC) in Dhaka in 1957. These societies together with similar societies of West Pakistan formed the Pakistan Film Producers' Association. From East Pakistan leadership was provided by abdul jabbar khan, Mosharraf Husain Choudhury, Syed Mohammad Parvez and Ehtesham. In 1962-63, its president was Abdul Majid from Dhaka (Izzat Corporation), its vice-president was Abdul Jabbar Khan (Iqbal Films), and its executive committee included Mosharraf Husain Choudhury (Azli Films) and zahir raihan (Little Cine Circle) as members. On 25 March 1971, khan ataur rahman and others formed the Bangladesh Film Producers' Association. In 1975-76, the distributors formed their own organisation - the Bangladesh Film Distributors' Association. In 1997, the two merged to form the Bangladesh Film Producers-Distributors Association. In addition to safeguarding their professional interests, they made an important contribution to the promotion of the industry by introducing film awards in 1991. They have also been active in efforts to establish a code of conduct for the industry.

The first association of film directors was formed in the mid-1960s under the leadership of Zahir Raihan. The Bangladesh Film Directors Association was formed in 1981. The association of cine journalists of Pakistan was formed in Dhaka in 1968. It was revived as the Bangladesh Cine Journalists Association in 1973-74. An important contribution made by it was the introduction of awards for excellence in different branches of filmmaking. Other societies in the industry are: the Dhaka Metropolitan Film Exhibitors Association, Bangladesh Film Exhibitors Association, Bangladesh Film Editors Association, Bangladesh Film Artistes Association, Bangladesh Assistant Film Directors Association, Bangladesh Film Management Society, Cine Writers Association and Cinema Hall Employees and Workers Union. [Anupam Hayat]