The film’s narrative delves into the unsettling discovery of a hidden self.
Bangladeshi short film A Thing about Kashem by Bijon Imtiaz has at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.
The film competed and won the Grand Prize in the Alternative Spirit (Short) category.
The victory at this Oscar-qualifying event means the film has now become eligible for Academy Award submission.
The 17-minute production features renowned actor Intekhab Dinar in the lead.
The supporting cast includes Moutushi Biswas, Hasnat Ripon, Kamruzzaman Tapu and Tonushree Karkun.
The screenplay was written by Nuhash Humayun, while Imtiaz himself helped shape the story.
The film was produced under the banners of Goopy Bagha, Long Story and Screenxcope.
It was backed by producers Arifur Rahman, Nuhash Humayun, Imran Ahmed, Sakib Iftekhar and Nusrat Amin Supti.
Bijon, currently based in the United States, where he teaches and studies film, shared that the project marked a personal return to creativity.
In a heartfelt message posted online, he reflected that with age, many lose spontaneity, but this film rekindled that spirit.
He described it as a deeply personal process of rediscovering the joy of creation, free from constraints of industry or expectation.
The film’s narrative delves into the unsettling discovery of a hidden self within a man, forcing confrontation with identity.
Producer Arifur Rahman, known for directing the Chorki web series Baaji, emphasised that the award carried monumental significance for Bangladeshi cinema.
He explained that while many films enter Oscar-qualifying festivals, actually winning such a prize elevates the achievement to another level.
Rahman also highlighted the practical side, noting that lobbying for the Academy often costs more than the film itself.
This award has already advanced the project significantly without financial strain often attached to Oscar campaigns.
He further explained that the film’s themes of inner conflict and hidden selves are universal, resonating with audiences beyond cultural boundaries.
Hasnat Ripon, who earned his role through an audition, praised Bijon Imtiaz’s rigorous process.
He described the experience as organised, professional and internationally standardised.
The actor recalled the extensive rehearsals and preparation that created a collaborative environment where cast members could fully embody their roles.
The film’s journey has already extended beyond Rhode Island, with screenings at Caostica International Shortfilm and Videoclip Festival in Spain.
It also screened at the Asian American International Film Festival in New York and the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.
Further Oscar-qualifying screenings of A Thing about Kashem are anticipated in the coming months.
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