Bangladeshi film “Saatao”, directed by Khandaker Sumon, has won the Best International Feature Film award at the 14th Nepal Africa International Film Festival (NAIFF), held in Kathmandu from January 16 to 19.
The winners were announced on the closing day of the festival, where “Saatao” emerged as the top film in its category. The film has previously been screened at several national and international festivals and has received multiple accolades over the years.
This year’s Nepal Africa International Film Festival showcased 43 films from 20 countries. Alongside “Saatao", several other Bangladeshi films were also recognised. Shaila Rahman Tithi’s “Jhora Patar Chithi” won the award for Best International Female Film, while “No Dice”, directed by Sagar Islam, received a Special Mention Award in the International Short Film category.
Expressing his emotions over the achievement, director Khondkar Sumon said that receiving international recognition three years after the film’s release was deeply moving. “Even after three years of its release, ‘Saatao’ is still being recognised at international festivals. This is incredibly emotional for me. This recognition proves that if a story speaks truthfully about real people, it never becomes outdated,” he said.

Set in a village in northern Bangladesh, “Saatao” portrays a community struggling with poverty yet finding resilience through festivals and shared joy. The story revolves around a rural couple, Fazlu and Putul. Fazlu earns a living through farming and fishing, while Putul holds the household together with care and compassion. Besides the couple, the family includes one more member—a cow. When the cow dies while giving birth, the calf becomes like a child to Fazlu and Putul, adding emotional depth to the narrative.The film features performances by Fazlul Haque, Aynun Nahar Putul, Abdullah Al Sentu, and others.