‘Suraiya’ secures Berlinale World Cinema Fund for production

At the 42nd jury session of the Berlinale World Cinema Fund (WCF), twelve international film projects from Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Mexico, Panama, Sudan, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Venezuela have been selected for funding.

Bangladeshi feature film "Suraiya", directed by Robiul Alam Robi and produced by Ratherhood Initiatives Ltd, has received a production grant of €40,000 (approximately Tk 55 lakh). The film is produced by Fazle Hasan Shishir.

The WCF jury made its selection from 236 submitted projects representing 63 countries. The current funding cycle includes €525,000 for twelve production grants and two distribution grants, along with an additional €40,000 for the TUI Care Foundation Award.

Sharing the news, producer Fazle Hasan Shishir said, "We are honoured to announce that our feature film 'Suraiya' has been selected for production funding by the Berlinale World Cinema Fund 2025. As part of this year's funding recommendations, 'Suraiya' stands alongside a diverse group of international projects from across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe."

"This recognition by the World Cinema Fund is a meaningful step for us at Ratherhood Initiatives Ltd, reaffirming our commitment to telling stories rooted in Bangladesh yet resonant with global audiences," he added.

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Previously, "Suraiya" was selected for the Asian Project Market 2023, Produire au Sud Dharamshala Lab 2023, and the Tasveer Film Market 2024.