Bangladesh’s film Master has won a major award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Netherlands. The film received the top prize in the festival’s Big Screen Competition, as announced on Friday night. Directed by Rezwan Shahriar Sumit, Master competed against 12 films from around the world to claim the award.
The news of the win sparked excitement among the film’s cast and crew. Actress Azmeri Haque Badhon shared her joy on social media, calling it “a great day for Bangladesh” and congratulating the director and the entire team. Director Rezwan Shahriar Sumit said the honor was beyond words, noting that simply being selected among such strong films was already a source of pride, and winning the award felt like a dream.
Master tells the story of a schoolteacher who, due to circumstances, becomes an elected chairman at the local level. After the election, he faces growing social and political pressure. Those who supported him with time, labor, and money began to demand unfair favors. Caught between these expectations and his own conscience, the teacher struggles to maintain his integrity. This moral conflict gradually transforms him, highlighting the clash between ideals and power.
In their official statement, the jury described Master as a universal story of a person’s struggle to hold on to moral values. The film subtly portrays how power and capitalism slowly reshape an idealistic individual. Praising its strong performances, realistic locations, and vivid supporting characters, the jury said the film ultimately exposes the all-consuming nature of power.
The world premiere of Master took place in Rotterdam on February 2, where it received strong international acclaim. Ahead of the premiere, UK-based production company Kawanann Films joined the project as executive producer, bringing additional attention to the film. The company was founded by Carmen Chaplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, along with producer Ashim Ahluwalia.
Along with the award, Master received 15,000 euros in prize money, while the distributor acquiring the film’s Dutch distribution rights was also awarded 15,000 euros. In total, the film earned more than 4.3 million Bangladeshi taka. Competing against works by internationally renowned filmmakers and actors, Master’s victory is being seen as a significant milestone for Bangladeshi cinema on the global stage.
