Bangladeshi Short Film Ali Competes at Cannes

Bangladeshi short film Ali has secured a spot in the Short Film category at the 78th Cannes International Film Festival. Directed by Adnan Al Rajeev, the 15-minute film will compete alongside other global entries in this prestigious category. Earlier today, the Cannes authorities released the list of nominated short films, following which the filmmaker himself confirmed Ali's nomination in a press release.

Produced by Tanvir Hossain from Bangladesh and Christine D. Leon from the Philippines, the film’s line production was managed by Runout Films. Tanvir Hossain expressed his excitement, stating that such recognition is not only a moment of pride for the film industry in Bangladesh but will also inspire many young filmmakers. “We often don’t give short films the importance they deserve,” he said. “But it is through works like these that young talents grow and evolve. Securing a place in Cannes' main competition is an encouraging milestone. It shows that we, too, are capable of producing world-class cinema.”

Due to festival regulations, director Adnan Al Rajeev couldn't share much about the film, but he mentioned that it was shot in Sylhet in November 2024. Offering a brief hint about the story, he said, “Through the lens of personal experience, we tried to explore an inevitable truth — keeping the narrative simple, sincere, and beautiful.”

The film’s executive producer, Habibur Rahman Tarek, said he was confident from the beginning that the story would resonate with international audiences. “Knowing the director and producers personally and their style of work, I was always optimistic. I closely monitored the quality and I can say with confidence — we have achieved international standards and are now very self-assured in our filmmaking.”

Adnan and Tanvir’s Cannes journey doesn’t end with Ali. The film was produced under the banner of Catalogue, a collaborative production company founded by Adnan Al Rajeev, Tanvir Hossain, Christine D. Leon, and Arvin Belarmino. Catalogue was established to connect filmmakers across South and Southeast Asia. As part of this initiative, Ali was directed by Adnan from Bangladesh, while Agapito — directed jointly by Arvin and Kyler from the Philippines — was also produced. Adnan and Tanvir served as co-producers for both films, and remarkably, Ali and Agapito have both been selected for Cannes’ main competition, contending for the prestigious Palme d'Or.