Laboni Akter

also known as Laboni Ashrafi

Senior Lecturer · University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)

Laboni Ashrafi (Laboni Akter) is an award-winning independent filmmaker and writer dedicated to exploring subaltern narratives and the emancipation of women. She received the prestigious Tareq Shahriar Best Independent Film Award for her film ‘Chakrabyuha’ at the 16th International Short & Independent Film Festival (2022). Her documentary project, ‘My mother can sing but she doesn't’, was notably awarded a Research & Development Grant at the Exposition of Young Film Talents 2022, organized by Liberation DocFest Bangladesh. As a “visual poet”, Ashrafi delves into the social and psychological landscapes of women through her cinematic work, reflecting her deep commitment as a feminist and women’s rights advocate. A scholar-practitioner, she holds an MA from the University of Dhaka and a PGD in Filmmaking from the Bangladesh Cinema & Television Institute (BCTI). Bridging the worlds of academia and art, she currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), where she continues to explore the intersections of literature, culture, and visual storytelling.