Bangladeshi short film Nikhonj has earned major international recognition by winning Best Short Film and Best Director at the inaugural New York Bangla Film Festival, held over three days at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in New York, United States.
The festival, organised to showcase Bengali-language cinema to international audiences, featured films from Bangladesh and the wider Bengali-speaking world.
Awards and honours were presented across multiple categories in recognition of outstanding contributions to filmmaking.
Directed by Asaduzzaman Sabuj, the 13-minute short film Nikhoj is inspired by the short story Nilche Din.
The film explores the mysterious events that unfold in the life of a middle-class family, weaving together themes of human relationships, silence, guilt and the search for hidden truths through a sensitive and visually engaging narrative.
Reacting to the achievement, director Asaduzzaman Sabuj said the recognition would inspire him to continue creating meaningful films in the future.
Producer Md G. Rabbani described the award as more than just a victory for Nikhoj, saying it was also an encouraging milestone for original, literature-inspired storytelling in the Bengali language.
Nikhoj was written and directed by Asaduzzaman Sabuj and produced by Md G. Rabbani.
The cast includes Shahed Ali, Fariha Shams Sheuti, Ripa Ronjona, Apu Ahmed and several others.
The double win marks a significant international achievement for the Bangladeshi short film, highlighting the growing global appreciation for independent Bengali cinema and its storytelling.
