Bangladeshi film Uraal selected for Barcelona film fest

Bangladeshi independent feature film Uraal – The Flying Souls, directed by Jobaidur Rahman and produced by Sharif Siraj, has been selected for the official competition of the 14th Asian Film Festival Barcelona, with a screening scheduled for 1 November at Cinemes Girona Sala 2 in Barcelona.

Written by theatre director and academic Samrat Pramanik, Uraal was released in August 2025. The film follows Moti, Bachchu and Ronju, three childhood friends whose lives in a small town revolve around bicycles, railway tracks and local cinema halls.

Their lives take a dark turn when Kumkum, the daughter of a prominent local merchant, briefly attracts Bachchu’s attention before mysteriously disappearing, triggering a series of tragic events.

Organised by Casa Asia, the annual Asian Film Festival Barcelona showcases independent and auteur cinema from across the Asia-Pacific region. The 2026 edition runs from October 22 to November 1 across several cultural venues in the city, including Cinemes Girona and CaixaForum Barcelona.

The festival brings together more than 100 films from over 20 countries, featuring works that explore themes including identity, gender, sustainability and human resilience.

Before its selection for the Barcelona festival, Uraal screened at the Dhaka International Film Festival, the Rainbow International Film Festival and the Zabaikalskiy International Film Festival.