Bangladeshi cinema achieved a historic milestone this weekend as Master, the latest feature from director Rezwan Shahriar Sumit, won the coveted VPRO Big Screen Award at the 2026 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR).
The prize, which includes a €15,000 cash award for the director and an additional €15,000 to guarantee Dutch theatrical distribution, marks a major international breakthrough for the country’s film industry.
Set against the backdrop of Bangladesh’s 2024 July Revolution, Master follows the psychological and moral unravelling of a respected schoolteacher who is thrust into the murky world of local politics.
The Rotterdam jury described the film as a "universal story about a person striving to hold onto their moral compass, only to be reshaped by the persuasive and destructive forces of power and capitalism." They particularly lauded the "superb leading performance" of Nasir Uddin Khan, who stars alongside a powerhouse cast including Azmeri Haque Badhon and Fazlur Rahman Babu.
The Big Screen Competition is designed to celebrate films that bridge the gap between high-concept arthouse cinema and broader audience appeal. The jury noted that what begins as a "straightforward tale of idealism versus corruption" eventually unfolds into a "layered, complex narrative."
Director Rezwan Shahriar Sumit is no stranger to critical acclaim; his debut film, Nonajaler Kabya (The Salt in Our Waters), previously swept seven National Film Awards in Bangladesh. With Master, Sumit has firmly established a global presence, using local upazila-level power struggles to explore themes that resonate worldwide.
Global Winners at IFFR 2026 Master shared the winners' circle with other international standouts: Tiger Award: South African directors Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar for Variations On A Theme. Special Jury Award: Swedish director Angelica Ruffier for La Belle Année. FIPRESCI Award: Georgian filmmaker Ana Urushadze for Supporting Role.
The win for Master ensures the film will receive a wide release in the Netherlands, further amplifying the reach of Bangladeshi stories in the European market.
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