Bangladeshi automotive filmmaker and content creator Saif Sarwar has secured his second consecutive nomination at the International Motor Film Awards (IMFA), with his film Beyond The Machine earning recognition in the 2026 awards programme. The achievement marks another milestone in Sarwar’s efforts to take Bangladeshi automotive filmmaking to the international stage.
Sarwar became the first Bangladeshi filmmaker to receive an IMFA nomination in 2025 when his film Go Beyond was shortlisted for the awards. A year later, his latest production, Beyond The Machine, has made him a two-time consecutive nominee at the international automotive film awards, the company said in a press release.
Featuring the Porsche 718 Boxster, Beyond The Machine explores the creative process behind automotive filmmaking and highlights Sarwar’s belief that such films are not only about showcasing vehicles but also about presenting a filmmaker’s vision, creativity, effort and passion behind every frame.
The consecutive nominations place Sarwar among filmmakers and productions associated with internationally recognised automotive and entertainment names, including Hagerty, Top Gear, Red Bull and CAR Magazine. His recognition also highlights the growing presence of Bangladeshi automotive storytelling on the global creative stage.
The IMFA 2026 nomination list includes major productions connected with Hollywood figures, including Crime 101, directed by Bart Layton and starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Halle Berry; The Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright and featuring Glen Powell, Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo; TRON: Ares, directed by Joachim Rønning and starring Jared Leto, Jeff Bridges, Greta Lee and Evan Peters; and The Rip, written and directed by Joe Carnahan and starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
Other nominated productions include The Lost Bus, starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera; Back in Action, featuring Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz and Glenn Close; The Pickup, starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria and Keke Palmer; and Sung Kang x Drifter | AE86 in Taiwan, featuring Sung Kang and Laticia Fan.
The IMFA 2026 Awards Night is scheduled for 14 November at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, bringing together figures from automotive filmmaking, film, television and motorsport.
For Sarwar, the second nomination carries a personal challenge as he seeks to attend the ceremony in person after missing the 2025 event in London due to a lack of financial support for travel. He said he has received a direct invitation from the awards director but remains uncertain about making the journey to Los Angeles.
“Being nominated at IMFA for the second time makes me feel more afraid than happy. I know how difficult it is to reach this stage, but for an automotive filmmaker from Bangladesh, turning that dream into reality is even harder,” Sarwar said.
Sarwar said his journey began with passion rather than recognition, adding that automotive filmmaking in Bangladesh still does not receive the level of recognition or value it deserves.
His latest nomination follows another international achievement in 2025, when he became the first Bangladeshi creator to receive a Judges’ Honourable Mention at the Grand Motoring Film Festival in the United States.
