Bangladeshi filmmaker Zayed Siddiki’s short film ‘Darkaak’ (Raven) has earned international recognition, being selected to compete at the 31st Minsk International Film Festival (MIFF) Listapad 2025, one of Eastern Europe’s most prominent film events.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture of Belarus, the Minsk City Executive Committee and Belarusfilm, the festival stands as a key cultural platform in the region, known for celebrating cinematic works that challenge perception and provoke thought.
This year’s edition, themed “History that Changes Perspectives,” will run from October 31 to November 7 in Minsk.
Out of 3,655 submissions from 120 countries, the festival has shortlisted 157 films from 41 nations. In the short film category, Darkaak (Raven) is one of the 13 films to make the final cut, and notably the only Bangladeshi entry.
The film is scheduled to screen on November 2 at 3:00 pm (local time) at the historic Moskva Cinema, which will host the festival’s short film competition.
Adapted from a story by acclaimed writer Shahidul Zahir, Darkaak marks another bold exploration of social and existential themes by Siddiki, who also penned the screenplay and dialogue.
The film portrays an aging man grappling with invisibility and alienation within his own family: a haunting reflection on relevance, dignity and resistance amid the quiet struggles of urban life.
With its introspective storytelling and minimalist aesthetic, Darkaak (Raven) continues Siddiki’s ongoing pursuit of cinema rooted in empathy, identity and the unseen textures of Bangladesh’s everyday realities.
