13 years after its original screening, ’s acclaimed short film, ‘The Container’ (2012) by Abu Shahed Emon , will be re-screened at the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), one of Asia’s most prestigious cinematic events.
The Bangladeshi filmmaker has been formally invited to present the film as part of a special showcase celebrating the joint 30th anniversaries of both BIFF and his alma mater, the esteemed Korea National University of Arts (K’ARTS).
The invitation underscores Emon’s storied 15-year relationship with the festival. The special event, celebrating three decades of K’ARTS’ School of Film, TV & Multimedia, will take place from September 19 to 21 during the main festival.
In an invitation letter, So Yeon Kim, Managing Director of the 30th Anniversary celebration, highlighted the film’s unique position, stating, “Your film will be the one and only AMA+ film, alongside other shorts from co-production with Japan and China”. The event will also include a guest talk with the director following the screening.
Reflecting on the honor, Emon said, “I learned a lot about cinema at this university. Over 30 years, countless students have emerged, making films. It is an honor to have my alumni film screened at Busan after 13 years. While my professional journey spans 18 years, this festival has been a defining part of it for 15 of them, shaping my path ever since 2010.”
Emon’s journey with BIFF began in 2010 as a fellow of the Asian Film Academy (AFA), where he was mentored by the legendary Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami. His work earned him the AFA Scholarship Fund Award for Post-Production that year. This was just the beginning of a series of accolades at Busan.
In 2011, his feature film project, ‘The Tale of a Policeman’, garnered significant support, receiving the Asian Cinema Fund for Script Development and the Göteborg International Film Festival Fund Award at the Asian Project Market.
The following year, 2012, proved pivotal. In addition to its selection in the Asian Short Film Competition, The Container won the AFA Fellowship Fund, receiving a cash grant for its post-production.
Emon continued to break new ground, and in 2014, his debut feature Jalal’s Story (‘Jalaler Golpo’) became the first Bangladeshi film selected for the prestigious New Currents Competition at BIFF, also securing the Asian Cinema Fund’s Post-Production Fund Award.
His connection to the festival came full circle in 2017 when he returned to the Asian Film Academy—this time as a technical assistant, contributing to the program under that year’s Dean, celebrated Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda.
As a producer, Abu Shahed Emon has championed Bangladeshi cinema on the global stage, with BIFF often serving as the launching pad. The anthology film Sincerely, Yours, Dhaka (‘Iti, Tomari Dhaka’), which he produced, had its world premiere at Busan in 2018 before landing on Netflix and becoming Bangladesh’s submission to the 93rd Academy Awards.
His production company, Golpo Rajjo Films, produced No Ground Beneath the Feet (‘Payer Tolay Mati Nai’), which also premiered at BIFF in 2021 and was later selected as the country’s entry for the 96th Oscars.
An alumnus of K’ARTS’ filmmaking directing major, Emon has evolved into a prolific producer, backing a slate of critically and commercially successful projects. His diverse portfolio includes ‘Komola Rocket’ (2018), ‘Arai Mon Shopno’ (2020), ‘Damal’ (2022), ‘Paap Punyo’ (2022), ‘Beauty Circus’ (2022), ‘Roktojoba’ (2023), ‘A House with No Names’ (2023), ‘Tenement of Secret Talk’ (2024), ‘Jaya Aar Sharmin’ (2025) and the acclaimed web series ‘Mercules’ (2023).
“This time, I am returning in a different role as both a director and an alumnus,” Emon remarked.
The 30th Busan International Film Festival will run from September 17 to 26, 2025.