'Boli' wins accolades at Busan International Film Festival
Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury's riveting film "Boli" (The Wrestler) has won awards in the New Currents category at the 28th Busan International Film Festival. This prestigious accolade was unveiled on the festival's closing day, marking a historic milestone for Bangladesh's film industry. "Boli" became the first Bangladeshi entry to clinch this coveted title, sharing the spotlight with Japan's "Mori Tatsuya." Both films, bearing immense narrative prowess, were given an award of $30,000 each.
Describing "Boli," the judges of the New Currents section at the Busan festival acclaimed, "Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury's film 'The Wrestler' is like a gripping single-round wrestling match, where the story is magically told."
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. In this film, Nasir Uddin Khan portrays a rugged fisherman from a coastal region. Director Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury envisions 'Boli' as a timeless classic with potential global appeal.
The movie was meticulously shot against the backdrop of the picturesque coastal expanse of Chittagong during April and May of the previous year. Director Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury elaborated on the film's theme, saying, "It explores the enigmatic duality of the coastal area, likened to the ocean—tranquil yet mysterious on the one hand and devastating on the other. These two facets are meticulously captured through the film's captivating visuals."
The movie was extensively shot in the picturesque coastal area of Chittagong in April-May last year.
Highlighting the significance of preserving the regional Chittagong language, Director Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury noted, "Many of the newer generations in Chittagong have steered away from our regional dialect, resulting in the erosion of our native language. 'Boli' (The Wrestler) will serve as a repository of our linguistic heritage, as it has already earned a place in the archives of the Busan Cinema Centre."
"Boli" also received financial support from the Government of Bangladesh in the fiscal year 2020-21. Additionally, it was selected as the preliminary choice for the Hubert Bals Fund, a prestigious global film fund, in September last year.
"Boli" received enthusiastic screenings at the Busan International Film Festival on October 7, 8, and 9. Following each show, the "Boli" team engaged with the audience, fielding numerous inquiries. Intriguingly, the Korean audience expressed a heightened curiosity about volleyball, further underscoring the film's impact.
The Busan International Film Festival is renowned as the largest and most prestigious film festival in Asia. In collaboration with South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and organised by Busan City and the Korean Film Council, the festival has solidified its status as a pivotal event on the international film festival calendar.
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