TBT REPORT
Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s film “Roid” will represent Bangladesh at the 99th Academy Awards, after being selected as the country’s official entry in the International Feature Film category.
The announcement was made at a press conference held on Sunday at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital.
A total of five films were submitted for consideration this year. Four films made the initial shortlist, from which “Roid” was ultimately selected as Bangladesh’s official entry for the prestigious awards.
The selection marks a significant moment for Bangladeshi cinema, giving the film an opportunity to present the country’s stories, culture and distinctive filmmaking approach to an international audience.
The cast and crew believe the Oscar journey is not solely about “Roid”, but also represents an important opportunity for Bangladeshi cinema to reach a wider global audience.
Director Mejbaur Rahman Sumon said, “I’m very happy to know that my film is going to represent Bangladesh on a major platform like the Oscars. Roid is deeply rooted in Bangladesh. The film has grown out of the stories, folklore, culture and way of life of our region and its people. We did not want to look at cinema only as commercial entertainment; we also wanted to focus on its aesthetics, ideas and the importance of telling our own stories. Over the past few years, several quality Bangladeshi films have represented the country there, which is an encouraging sign for our cinema. Being part of that journey with Roid is a great achievement for us. I hope many more stories from Bangladesh will reach international audiences in the future.”
Speaking about the selection, actress Nazifa Tushi said, “Roid’s journey to the Oscars could open doors to new possibilities for Bangladeshi cinema.”
With “Roid” now entering the Academy Awards race, attention will turn to the final list of Oscar nominations. A nomination would further increase the film’s international visibility and create new opportunities for Bangladeshi cinema on the global stage.
The screenplay was jointly written by Siddiq Ahmed, Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, Zahid Faruk and Shukarna Shahed Dhiman. Jointly produced by Bongo and Facecard, the film stars Mostafizur Noor Imran and Nazifa Tushi in key roles.
