Bangladesh, Oct. 9 -- Los Angeles, Oct. 9 (Xinhua/UNB) -- In a charming outdoor setting at Raleigh Studios lot in Hollywood, California, amid glowing linen tents and cozy clusters of comfy couches, a handsome crowd of cinephiles lined up to join the Hollywood Film Festival (HFF), which kicked its new season off with a bang over the past weekend.

The festival, under the direction of Chairman Bradford Parks and CEO David Knott, has undergone an important transformation over the last couple of years to become a younger, cooler one dedicated to the principles of diversity, inclusion and global outreach.

"We see ourselves as the United Nations for film festivals," Parks told Xinhua.

"For us, it's not just about hosting an action-packed week...