Bangladesh has nominated the film "Boli" (The Wrestler) to represent the country at the 97th Academy Awards. Directed by Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury, the film recently won an award at the Busan Film Festival, making it a strong candidate for the Oscars.
The Oscar Bangladesh Committee, which includes seven members and is led by director Matin Rahman, announced the nomination on October 1. After reviewing several films, the committee unanimously chose "Boli" as Bangladesh's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category.
"Boli" has not yet been shown in cinemas in Bangladesh. However, new rules from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences allow films to be submitted even if they have not had a theatrical release in their home country. As long as the film meets certain requirements, including being shown internationally, it can still be nominated.
The film received funding from the Bangladesh government for the fiscal year 2020-21. It stars Nasir Uddin Khan as a quirky fisherman living by the sea. The filming took place in the coastal areas of Chattogram in April and May of 2022. Saiful Azim and Syed Gausul Alam Shaon are co-producers of the film.
"Boli" gained attention when it won an award in the New Currents section at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 2022. This achievement marked the first time a Bangladeshi film was recognized as the best at this prestigious festival.
The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. As "Boli" heads to
the Oscars, the entire nation is
proud of its achievement and hopeful for a win.
