Rezwan Shahriar Sumit
Rezwan Shahriar Sumit | |
|---|---|
রেজওয়ান শাহরিয়ার সুমিত | |
.jpg) Sumit (right) receiving the National Film Award from Sheikh Hasina in 2023 | |
| Born | |
| Education | New York University Tisch School of the Arts |
| Occupations | Filmmaker, screenwriter, film producer |
| Known for |
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| Awards |
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Rezwan Shahriar Sumit (Bengali: রেজওয়ান শাহরিয়ার সুমিত) is a Bangladeshi filmmaker, screenwriter, and film producer. He gained prominence with his debut feature film, Nonajoler Kabbo (2020), which won seven Bangladesh National Film Awards, including Best Film and Best Director. In 2026, his sophomore feature, the political drama Master, won the VPRO Big Screen Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR).
Early life and education
Sumit was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[1] His interest in filmmaking led to his early short film City Life, which earned him selection for the Berlinale Talents program at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2008.[2]
He later moved to the United States to study film production at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts as a Tisch Fellow, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree. During his time at NYU, he received a Spike Lee Production Grant and produced Barbara Cigarroa's thesis short film Dios Nunca Muere, which screened at the New York Film Festival and AFI Fest.[3]
Career
Sumit made his feature directorial debut with Nonajoler Kabbo (internationally titled The Salt in Our Waters), a drama exploring climate change and coastal community traditions in Patuakhali, Bangladesh. The film held its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2020.[4] It subsequently competed at the Göteborg Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, and Kolkata International Film Festival, where it won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film.[5] At the 46th Bangladesh National Film Awards, the film swept seven categories, including Best Director and Best Film for Sumit.[6]
His second feature film, Master, a rural political thriller starring Nasir Uddin Khan and Azmeri Haque Badhon, premiered at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam in February 2026. The film won the festival's VPRO Big Screen Award by unanimous jury decision.[7] It went on to screen at international festivals including the Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival.[8]
Filmography
Feature films
| Year | Title | Native title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Nonajoler Kabbo | নোনাজেলের কাব্য | Director, writer, producer | Feature debut |
| 2026 | Master | মাস্টার | Director, co-writer, producer | Won VPRO Big Screen Award at IFFR |
Short films
- City Life (2008)
- Moon Fairy (2009)
- Raising Flames (2014)
- Remnants of Men (2016)
Accolades
| Year | Award / Festival | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Kolkata International Film Festival | NETPAC Award (Best Asian Select) | Nonajoler Kabbo | Won |
| 2021 | Göteborg Film Festival | Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award | Nonajoler Kabbo | Nominated |
| 2023 | 46th Bangladesh National Film Awards | Best Director | Nonajoler Kabbo | Won |
| Best Film | Won | |||
| 2026 | International Film Festival Rotterdam | VPRO Big Screen Award | Master | Won |
References
- ↑ "Rezwan Shahriar Sumit Profile". TorinoFilmLab. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ Kotzathanasis, Panos (24 October 2020). "Interview with Rezwan Shahriar Sumit: I have some incredible true stories to share with the world". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "Rezwan Shahriar Sumit Biography". International Film Festival Rotterdam. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "The Salt in Our Waters kicks up stormy arguments in the Ganges Delta". British Film Institute. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "'Nonajoler Kabbo' nominated for Ingmar Bergman Award, named best Asian film at Kolkata". Dhaka Tribune. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "Dolly Zahur, Ilias Kanchan likely to receive 'Lifetime Achievement Award'". The Daily Star. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ "Bangladesh's 'Master' wins award at Rotterdam Film Festival". The Daily Star. 7 February 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- ↑ Khan, Kawsar (6 June 2026). "সিডনিতে ৭০ দেশের ২৪০ ছবির ভিড়ে বাংলাদেশের 'মাস্টার' নিয়ে উচ্ছ্বাস". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 11 August 2026.