Published: : October 20, 2025, 11:41 AM
Bangladeshi feature film Suraiya has been awarded a major production grant from the Berlinale World Cinema Fund (WCF), placing it among a select group of global independent projects backed by one of the world’s leading film institutions.
The announcement came following the WCF’s 42nd jury session, where twelve films from across Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Mexico, Panama, Sudan, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Venezuela were chosen for financial support. This year’s selection was made from 236 submissions representing 63 countries — underscoring the competitiveness of the process.
Suraiya, directed by Robiul Alam Robi and produced by Ratherhood Initiatives Ltd, secured €40,000 (around Tk 55 lakh) in production funding. The film is produced by Fazle Hasan Shishir, who described the recognition as a significant milestone for Bangladeshi independent cinema.
“We are honoured to receive support from the Berlinale World Cinema Fund 2025,” said Shishir in a statement. “To stand alongside such a diverse group of international projects from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe is both humbling and inspiring. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to telling stories rooted in Bangladesh yet resonant with global audiences.”
The Berlinale World Cinema Fund allocated a total of €525,000 this cycle for twelve production grants and two distribution grants, alongside a €40,000 TUI Care Foundation Award.
Suraiya has already gained international industry attention prior to this win. The project was previously selected for the Asian Project Market 2023, Produire au Sud Dharamshala Lab 2023, and the Tasveer Film Market 2024.
With the WCF backing, Suraiya now advances toward production with heightened visibility on the global festival circuit — marking another notable step forward for contemporary Bangladeshi cinema.
