Three Bangladeshi films—"Delupi", "Roid" and "Master"—have been selected across three sections of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) this year, marking the first time three local productions have featured together at a major international festival. The festival will be held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from January 29 to February 8, 2026.
'Delupi'
Like many parts of the country, Deluti Union in Khulna was hit by floods in 2024. Filmmaker Mohammad Touqir Islam travelled there in search of a story, initially planning to make a feature film. Through observation and engagement with the local community, "Delupi" gradually took shape. That regional story has now reached Europe, with the film selected for IFFR's Bright Future section, which showcases first and second features by emerging filmmakers.
The director said the festival authority had expressed interest in hosting the film's world premiere even before its domestic theatrical release last November. "When we first received the email from Rotterdam about the world premiere, we were in a dilemma, as we had promised the people of Deluti Union that they would be the first to see the film. We also wanted Bangladeshi audiences to watch it first. We shared this with the festival authority, and they agreed. Now 'Delupi' will travel beyond the country, which makes us happy," Touqir said.
Set against the lived realities of southern Khulna, the film explores river erosion, climate change, the national impact on local politics and the everyday struggles of ordinary people. The cast includes Chiranjeet Biswas, Aditi Roy, Rudra Roy and Zakir Hossain.
'Roid'
Three years after the release of "Hawa", filmmaker Mejbaur Rahman Sumon returns with "Roid". The director said the story traces back to his childhood and is rooted in two characters he knew while growing up. His mother, he noted, is a key source of the narrative, having shared the story with him since his early years. Memory, emotion and folk elements come together in the film.
Sumon described "Hawa" as a journey across water and uncertainty, while making "Roid" on land was a distinctly different and challenging experience. The story revolves around Sadhu, his mentally unstable wife and a palm tree beside their home, reimagining an age-old folk tale in a contemporary language.
One of the most striking aspects of the film is its set design. For the shoot, nearly 50,000 trees were planted on an empty site and nurtured for at least six months to make the location believable. The central house was also newly constructed for filming. "The effort was to make the location part of the story, not just a backdrop," the director said.
"Roid" has been officially selected for IFFR's main competition section, Tiger Competition. The two lead roles are played by Mostafizur Noor Imran and Nazifa Tushi.
'Master'
Following "Nonajoler Kabbo", young filmmaker Rezwan Shahriar Sumit is working on his second feature, "Master". The film has completed shooting and is currently in the editing stage. Its colour and sound work were completed at a renowned studio in South Korea, with artists from different parts of the world involved in the process.
The film examines various aspects of grassroots politics in Bangladesh. It received government grants in the 2022–23 fiscal year. Sumit serves as both director and producer, and co-wrote the screenplay with Sabbir Hossain.
The story follows a schoolteacher who is elected chairman out of necessity and subsequently faces moral and personal crises. Those who supported him during the election later expect undue favours, placing him in a conflict between conscience and obligation—gradually transforming him as a person.
The cast includes Nasir Uddin Khan, Zakia Bari Mamo, Azmeri Haque Badhan, Fazlur Rahman Babu and Lutfur Rahman George. "Master" has been selected for IFFR's Big Screen Competition section.
