Bangladeshi short film ‘Transit’ headed to Oscar-qualifying festival

Director and writer Ariq Anam Khan's short film, "Transit", will be screened at the Oscar-qualifying fest, Los Angeles (LA) Shorts, next month. The event, one of the largest international short film festivals in the world with more than 300 film screenings annually, is scheduled to run for the entire month of July.

"Transit" was screened at the highly prestigious Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France and the Dhaka International Film Festival in Bangladesh, earlier this year. Previously, the film was part of the main competition at the renowned Busan International Film Festival, and Encounters Film Festival in the UK.

"Participation in big international festivals helps motivate directors, and provides them a chance to analyse their own work," says Ariq Anam Khan. "Though I could not attend the festivals physically, the fact that the film was a part of these acclaimed events feels amazing."

The film was shot in 2019, and wrapped up in early 2020. Featuring Jahangir Alam in the lead role, "Transit" also features Sharmeen Akhee, Baidya Nath Saha, Khairul Alam Tipu, and Sharif Hossain Emon, among others.

 "Short films in our country is not yet fully developed or perceived as important as full-length feature films," shares Ariq Anam Khan, about the lack of international recognition for short films. "Most renowned directors started their careers with short films at first. In order to make a successful full-length feature film, one must have the experiences of making short films."

"Transit" is the story of a salesman, who waits for a migrant visa to Italy, hoping that it would change his luck and create a better future for his family. Experimenting with social realism, the 19-minute film highlights a person's struggles with poverty.