Bangladeshi film ‘Roid’, which premiered at the 55th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, is set for theatrical release in Australia and New Zealand this June through a collaboration between Screenxcope and DeshiEvents, exclusively reported by Variety.
The rural drama, directed by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, was showcased in the festival’s prestigious Tiger Competition section and has also secured a place at the upcoming Seattle International Film Festival.
‘Roid’ marks Sumon’s second feature following the critically acclaimed ‘Hawa’, which became Bangladesh’s official submission to the Academy Awards in 2022 and was noted as the country’s first feature film to appear on the US box office charts.
Produced by Bongo in association with Facecard Production, the film, starring Mostafizur Noor Imran and Nazifa Tushi in lead roles, also has executive production by Apoorva Bakshi of Awedacious Originals.
Set in rural Bangladesh during the pre-digital era, ‘Roid’ revolves around Sadu, a poor tenant farmer living in isolation with his unpredictable wife. The story follows his repeated attempts to abandon her in unfamiliar places, only for her to mysteriously return each time, gradually unfolding into a layered allegory of desire, attachment and fate.
Speaking about the acquisition, Screenxcope founder and director Sakib Iftekhar described ‘Roid’ as “a deeply universal film that cuts across cultures and geographies,” adding that the project aligns with the company’s vision of championing globally resonant independent cinema.
Sayed Faiz, CEO of DeshiEvents, said the film combines artistic depth with audience appeal across diaspora and broader international markets.
The distributors said further details regarding the release schedule and rollout strategy will be announced in the coming weeks.
