The Bangladeshi short film "Latika" directed by Samsul Islam Shopon has been selected to compete at the Moscow International Documentary Film Festival, one of the major film festivals in Russia. The festival is renowned for showcasing significant documentary films from around the world.
The film's inclusion in the festival was also announced on the festival's official website. "Latika" is scheduled to be featured on the evening of September 8.
The film portrays the heartfelt story of a determined woman named Latika and her family, who are members of the traditional Malo community living along the Chitra River in Narail district, Bangladesh. Her husband Shyam Biswas is a fisherman. A moving picture of their strained family with their two children and three pairs of otters emerge.
Samsul Islam Shopon is an Independent filmmaker, producer, organiser, and Eco activist. He made his first short documentary film “THE BOAT OF TURAG” in 2004. Since then, he has produced more than half a hundred audio visual commercials, documentaries and short films so far.
Samsul Islam Shopon won the International Collaboration Grant-2022 for the production of the short film "Latika". It was jointly organised by Dhaka Doclab and Wales One World Film Festival. Funded by the British Counci, "Latika" has been officially selected for the Wales One World Film Festival-2024 (England), VdR—Film Market- Visions du Réel International Documentary Film Festival-2024 (Switzerland), Chattogram International Documentary Film Festival-2024 (Bangladesh), and Divvy Film Festival-2024 (England).
The Moscow International Documentary Film Festival will take place from September 5 to 15. It will present films from a diverse range of countries, such as Brazil, Chile, China, France, Georgia, Iran, Italy, Kurdistan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Russia, Spain, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates.
