FROM PAGE 12
On my flight to France, I sat beside Yusuf Shaikh of Janta Cinemas. He was not travelling with a film in competition, but for what he called “recon work” -- observing trends, building relationships, and understanding where global cinema markets are heading.
He asked me a simple question: “Why wasn’t Bangladesh making a more concentrated effort to market its films at Cannes?”
The question lingered because it exposed a striking contrast in mentality. Even without an official selection, producers from neighbouring industries view Cannes as a strategic space worth occupying. In Bangladesh, participation too often remains tied to rare moments of festival recognition rather than long-term industry presence.
Walking through the Village International as the Marché du Film opened, the absence of a Bangladeshi pavilion was impossible to ignore.
The contrast with other countries was stark. Japan has built a major presence around its Country of Honour status, while South Korea and India continue to operate some of the market’s busiest hubs. Even Nepal, despite more limited resources, has maintained a visible presence.
That absence is all the more frustrating because Bangladesh has already shown it can produce internationally respected cinema. Rehana Maryam Noor and “Ali” proved that Bangladeshi stories can travel beyond national borders.
Still, the Bangladeshi spirit remains resilient in one of the festival’s specialised sections. This year, Cannes Docs -- a prestigious hub for non-fiction storytelling -- is showcasing four projects that demonstrate our narrative voice is very much alive.
Under a French-supported initiative, Opekkha, Blue-Collars from the Frontline, In Search of Her and My Cousin are being pitched to global distributors and programmers.
Last year, “Ali” showed that Bangladeshi cinema could earn recognition at Cannes. The challenge now is whether the country can build a sustained industry presence so such successes become part of a continuing trajectory rather than isolated moments of celebration.