Bangladeshi Political Drama Master Builds Festival Momentum with Wins in Italy and Serbia

Rezwan Shahriar Sumit's second feature film, Master, has continued its strong run on the international festival circuit this year. After an early breakthrough at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the political drama has now received Best Feature Film at the 22nd Lucca Film Festival in Tuscany and Best Screenplay at the 53rd Belgrade International Film Festival (FEST). These recognitions add to a growing list of honours for a film that has drawn attention for its grounded portrayal of power and moral compromise in rural Bangladesh.

Master centres on Jahir, a respected history teacher, husband and father living in the forest-surrounded town of Mohoganj. When he enters local politics with idealistic aims, the story follows the gradual erosion of his principles as he encounters the everyday pressures of influence, competing interests and the practical demands of governance. The narrative examines themes of corruption, loyalty, betrayal and personal transformation without relying on heightened melodrama. Instead, it stays close to the textures of rural life and the quiet ways power can reshape ordinary people. The screenplay, co-written by Sumit and Sabbir Hossain Shovon, has been repeatedly praised by juries for its intelligence, subtlety and ability to turn a local story into something that resonates more widely.

At the Lucca Film Festival, which concluded in early October, the jury—comprising Oscar-winning costume designer Franca Squarciapino, Lithuanian filmmaker Šarūnas Bartas and Italian actor-director-screenwriter Michele Riondino—selected Master as Best Feature Film. In their citation, the jury noted the film's capacity to use an apparently local narrative to reflect broader questions about the pressures facing representative democracy. They also highlighted the screenplay's careful construction and the way the film reveals the paradoxes its protagonist encounters. The award carried a cash prize of €1,000. Sumit later acknowledged the recognition on social media, thanking the jury, cast and crew while noting the film's ongoing absence from Bangladeshi cinemas.

Shortly afterward, the World Competition jury at Belgrade FEST, chaired by Serbian film theorist, critic and screenwriter Saša Radojević, awarded the same screenplay the Best Screenplay prize. The jury described Master as a compelling political drama that explores betrayal, corruption and the moral dilemmas faced by a man entering the halls of power. The panel also observed that stories from smaller film industries can illuminate shared human and political realities for international audiences. The Belgrade recognition further confirmed the screenplay's strengths after the film's earlier success elsewhere.

These latest awards follow Master's win of the VPRO Big Screen Award at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam earlier in 2026, where it premiered. That Rotterdam victory marked a notable moment for Bangladeshi cinema at a major European festival and helped open further screening opportunities, including at events such as the Sydney and Melbourne film festivals. Global sales company EST N8 subsequently acquired worldwide rights outside Bangladesh, signalling commercial interest alongside the critical response.
The film features Nasir Uddin Khan in the central role of Jahir, with supporting performances from Azmeri Haque Badhan, Zakia Bari Mamo, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Sharif Siraj, Tasnova Tamanna and Lutfar Rahman George. Running approximately 126 minutes, it is a co-production involving companies including Mypixelstory and Kwanon Films.

Sumit previously directed the critically regarded debut feature Nonajoler Kabbo (The Salt in Our Waters), which won multiple Bangladesh National Film Awards, including Best Film and Best Director. His return with Master has been watched closely by those following the development of contemporary Bangladeshi cinema. While the film has secured significant international visibility and festival prestige, it has not yet received a theatrical release in Bangladesh. The contrast between its overseas recognition and its limited domestic availability has become a recurring point of discussion among audiences and industry observers.

Taken together, the awards at Rotterdam, Lucca and Belgrade position Master as one of the more visible Bangladeshi films on the global circuit this year. The consistent jury response across different European festivals suggests that its tightly observed story of idealism meeting political reality has found traction beyond its original setting. For a film that remains unseen in its home country's cinemas, the accumulating international honours continue to raise questions about when—and how—local audiences will have the chance to engage with it on the big screen.