Bangladeshi director Mahde Hasan’s debut feature film Sand City has been acquired by Bangkok-based sales company Diversion for worldwide sales, excluding Bangladesh and Switzerland. The film is set to have its world premiere in the Proxima Competition at the 2025 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.
Sand City, produced by Rubaiyat Hossain and Aadnan Imtiaz Ahmed under the banner of Khona Talkies, in association with Cinema Cocoon, has already gained international attention. The film previously won the CNC Development Award at the Locarno Open Doors program and was featured at La Fabrique Cinéma, Produire au Sud, and Film Bazaar. It also received support from Visions Sud Est.
The film tells the story of two characters connected by sand. Emma, played by Victoria Chakma, discovers a severed finger while collecting cat litter, leading to a grim obsession. At the same time, Hasan, portrayed by Mostafa Monwar, steals sand from a washing plant to make glass at home. His actions turn into a dangerous fantasy as he dreams of building a glass empire.
Mostafa Monwar, known for his performances in Live from Dhaka and Made in Bangladesh, adds strength to the film’s cast. French cinematographer Mathieu Giombini, head of cinematography at La Fémis, handled the visuals, giving the project a distinct European arthouse style.
The rights deal for the film was negotiated between Mai Meksawan of Diversion and producer Aadnan Imtiaz Ahmed. This international acquisition marks another important achievement for Bangladeshi cinema, which continues to gain momentum on the global stage.
Sand City promises to be a unique addition to the growing list of Bangladeshi films making their mark at international festivals.
