Two Bangladeshi films, Roid and Delupi, have received international recognition at the Asian Film Festival Barcelona in Spain, with Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s Roid winning the award for best film in the Official Selection section and Mohammad Touqir Islam’s Delupi receiving a special mention in the Other Narrative section.

The recognition adds to the films’ growing international presence following their releases in Bangladesh.

The cast and crew of Roid welcomed the latest achievement. The film had previously won awards for best actress, best cinematography and best music at Canada’s Mosaic International Film Festival. It has also been selected to represent Bangladesh at the 99th Academy Awards next year.

Starring Mostafizur Noor Imran and Nazifa Tushi, Roid follows Sadu and his wife, Pagli, through a story that explores love, silence and the everyday complexities of human relationships.

The film began its international festival run at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands earlier this year before its theatrical release in Bangladesh during Eid ul Adha.

Meanwhile, the Barcelona recognition marks the second international honour for Delupi, which has been screened at 10 film festivals abroad. Earlier, its cast member Chiranjeet Biswas won the best actor award at the Tasveer Film Festival in North America.

Released in Bangladesh last year, Delupi explores the lives and experiences of people in the country’s southern region. Its narrative brings together politics, love, natural disasters, the struggles of jatra performers and the efforts of individuals to change their circumstances.

The film features a cast made up entirely of local residents of Khulna. 

Before Delupi, director Touqir received praise for his work on the series Shaaticup and Sinpaat.