“This is a moment of pride for our young filmmaker.”
Balur Nagarite, the debut feature by Bangladeshi filmmaker Mahde Hasan, has been officially selected for the Proxima Competition.
It will be held at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in Czechia.
The festival, considered one of Europe’s most respected cinematic platforms, will screen the film this summer.
This is sure to place Hasan’s work in a prestigious international spotlight.
The film stars Mostafa Monwar, whose performance has already drawn attention ahead of the premiere.
Joining him in the spotlight is sound designer Aranyak Prithivi.
Both were honoured at the Ministry of Culture in Dhaka recently.
Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki presented them with flowers, commending their contribution to Bangladeshi cinema.
Speaking at the event, Farooki described the film’s international recognition as a proud moment for the country’s creative community.
He said: “This is a moment of pride for our young filmmaker.”
Farooki stressed that such achievements reinforce the need to support emerging voices in cinema, music, theatre, photography, and architecture.
He said the ministry will continue encouraging Bangladeshi talents.
The ministry also announced that it would sponsor air travel for a member of the Balur Nagarite delegation attending the festival.
The film has already gained traction in the global film circuit.
Bangkok-based sales company Diversion has acquired international marketing rights for the project, with distribution planned globally.
However, this excludes Bangladesh and Switzerland.
Produced under the Khona Talkies banner, the film is backed by Rubaiyat Hossain and Aadnan Ahmed.
Additional support came from the Cinema Cocoon initiative, which aids promising filmmakers from underrepresented regions.
While Mahde Hasan is no stranger to short films and festival appearances, Balur Nagarite marks his full-length directorial debut.
The film is expected to introduce international audiences to a distinctive storytelling voice emerging from Bangladesh’s evolving indie cinema landscape.
The ministry’s involvement follows a similar gesture in early 2025.
Previously, it provided travel funding to Adnan Al Rajeev after his film Ali was selected for Cannes.
These decisions are part of a growing effort to actively promote Bangladeshi talent on international platforms.
As anticipation builds for the film’s premiere, Hasan’s selection is seen as both a personal achievement and a milestone for contemporary Bangladeshi cinema.
The spotlight now turns to the Proxima Competition, where Balur Nagarite will compete alongside other works from around the world.
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