"an honour to know South African audiences will see my film.”
Bangladeshi short film Untongue, directed by Golam Rabbani, has been officially selected for the 2025 Waterloo Film Festival in Durban, South Africa.
The festival will take place from July 4 to 6, 2025, featuring 82 films and 16 musical entries from around the world.
Rabbani confirmed the selection, saying the festival team praised his work and formally invited him to attend the screening in Durban.
While speaking about the global response to his work, Rabbani said:
“It’s an honour to know South African audiences will see my film.”
Rabbani said Untongue tells a story rooted in the right to free speech and the human urge to express without fear or censorship.
The film has previously earned an Honourable Mention at the Venice Intercultural Film Festival, gaining early global recognition.
Domestically, it has been screened at the BUFT Film Fest, Jagannath University Film Festival, and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s film events.
It was also featured in the Hill Film Festival, the Independent Film Festival, and the Mobile Film Festival earlier this year.
The cast includes Mizanur Rahman, Prasun Azad, Chandana Biswas, Zainal Abedin, and Manik Saha.
Their performances have helped shape a powerful visual narrative that resonates with audiences both locally and internationally.
In May 2025, the Goethe-Institut Dhaka screened Untongue alongside Rabbani’s film Surot as part of their “Cine Evening” series.
The event offered local audiences a glimpse into Bangladesh’s emerging voices in global cinema.
Surot, a 13-minute short, explores themes of identity without using any dialogue at all.
It relies on visual storytelling and music to reflect emotional shifts in ordinary life.
The cast includes Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed and Mizanur Rahman in lead roles, contributing to the film’s quiet but emotional tone.
Surot was previously recognised at the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival with a Special Mention in the Spiritual Film category.
It has also travelled to festivals in China, the Netherlands, the UK, and the United States.
Rabbani’s previous short film Chhurat was also honoured at the same Dhaka festival under the spiritual category.
Meanwhile, two new shorts from Rabbani, Stitch Life and Nishi, are currently awaiting their release.
Speaking about his journey, Golam Rabbani said he hopes to keep telling stories that reflect truth and resonate beyond borders.
He added: “Even small films can travel far when they speak from the heart.”
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