TBT REPORT
Mehazabien Chowdhury’s journey on the international stage with her film “Saba” began at the Toronto International Film Festival. Since then, the film has made its mark at several prestigious festivals, including the Busan International Film Festival, the Red Sea International Film Festival, the Gothenburg Film Festival, as well as those in Osaka and Dallas.
The film is now headed to the 33rd Raindance Film Festival in the United Kingdom. This festival holds special significance for Mehazabien, as she has been nominated for the Best Actress Award.
Mehazabien shared with the media that it is an optimistic direction for Bangladeshi cinema. She believes now is the time for the country’s film industry to flourish and for new talents to be given opportunities. “Stories from Bangladesh are relevant even on the global stage. This is just the beginning,” she expressed.
“With Bangladesh once again making an entry at the Cannes Film Festival, I believe the brilliance of our talent will soon resonate worldwide. I hope for more collaboration and support from fellow members of our industry so that, together, we can make it even stronger,” she added.
According to the Raindance Festival website, “Saba” will be showcased under the Narrative Feature category. Alongside a nomination for first-time director Maksud Hossain, the film has also been nominated for the Discovery Award. Mehazabien expressed her gratitude to director Maksud Hossain for his vision and guidance.
Although “Saba” has been screened at various international festivals, it is yet to be released in cinemas in Bangladesh.
