Bangladeshi filmmaker Adnan Al Rajeev has won another international award as his short film ‘Ali’ received the Best Short Narrative prize at the Bali International Film Festival, Balinale 2026, continuing the film’s successful run on the global festival circuit.
The latest recognition marks another milestone for the acclaimed short film following its historic achievement at the Cannes Film Festival and a recent victory at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival.
Set in a conservative coastal town where women are forbidden from singing, ‘Ali’ follows a teenager who enters a singing competition in the hope of escaping to the city while hiding a secret about his voice.
The 15-minute Bangladesh-Philippines co-production stars Al Amin and Indrani Soma. The film explores themes of identity, self-expression and social restriction.
The Balinale award comes only days after ‘Ali’ won Best Short Film in the International Competition section of the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF).
Earlier this year, the film made history by receiving a Special Mention in the Short Film Competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Bangladeshi short film to earn that distinction.
