Mohammad Rabby Mridha's maiden directorial venture, "Payer Tolay Mati Nai," has been officially designated as Bangladesh's submission for the 96th Academy Awards in the international feature film category.
The film delves into the profound impact of environmental shifts on the lives of individuals residing in regions prone to disasters.
Explaining the poignant title, Rabby shared, "We utter 'Payer Tolay Mati Nai' when we find ourselves in utter despair, when hope seems completely lost. The film's title encapsulates the feeling of things falling apart."
Previously, the film garnered accolades including the prestigious "Gautam Buddha Award" for Best Feature Film at the 5th Nepal International Film Festival. It also received a 'Special Jury Mention' in the 'Best Debut Film' category at the 7th Jaffna International Cinema Festival in Sri Lanka.
Having been showcased in 14 esteemed film festivals worldwide, including the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF 2021) in Korea and IFFSA Toronto, the film has made a resounding impact.
Its global premiere at the 2021 Busan International Film Festival, as part of the 'A Window on Asian Cinema' category, captivated audiences and garnered commendation from critics. "Payer Tolay Mati Nai" earned an impressive IMDb rating of 8.8/10.
The 96th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is slated for March 10, 2024. The grand event will be held at the illustrious Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, USA, featuring 24 distinguished award categories.
This marks another consecutive milestone for Bangladesh in the international film arena, following the nomination of Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's "Hawa" in the same category last year.
