The National Film Awards 2020 has received only 27 film submissions this year, the lowest in recent years.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which presents the awards every year to encourage filmmaking, called for film submissions in August, and the deadline ended Sunday.

Md Mominul Haque, the secretary of the Bangladesh Film Censor Board, said 27 films were submitted, including 14 full-length, seven short and six documentary films.

For the 2019 awards, 43 movies were submitted, including 29 full-length, 11 short-length, and three documentary films, he said. "The ongoing pandemic and the closure of major cinema halls amid repeated lockdowns were the main reasons behind the low submissions."

The full-length films submitted for the award are "Bir," "Shahenshah," "Gor (The Grave), "A Great Leader," "Holud Boni," "Gondi," "Unoponchash Batash," "Rupsha Nadir Banke," "Amar Maa," "Chal Jai," "Joy Nogor er Zamindar," "Subarnarekha," "Hridoy Jure" and "Bishwoshundori."

"Kothay Pabo Tare," "Ator," "Fera," "Shada Golap," "Arang," "The Squares," and "Amar Babar Naam" are the short films.

The documentary submissions are "Swadhinatar Daakticket," "Rathyatrar Baki Itihash," "Political Life of Bangabandhu and Emergence of Bangladesh," "Biography of Nazrul," "The Front Pearsman Fazlul Haque" and "Neel Mukut."

The National Film Awards are given in 28 categories - lifetime achievement, best film, best short film, best documentary, best film director, best actor (leading), best actress (leading), best actor (leading), best actress (supporting), best actor-actress (antagonist), best actor-actress (comedy), best child artist, a special award in the child artist category, best music director, best choreographer, best singer, best singer, best lyricist, best composer, best storyteller, best screenwriter, best dialogue writer, best editor, best art director, best cinematographer, best photographer, best costume designer and best decorator.