Samsul Islam Shopon’s documentary 'Latika' will be shown at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, this November. Funded by the British Council, 'Latika' has already been featured in nine international film festivals. It received warm praise from audiences at the Dokubaku International Documentary Film Festival.
The film has been nominated for the 'Climate Change Awards' by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, competing against two other films: Russia’s 'Against the Wind' and Belgium’s 'On Melting Snow.' The story of 'Latika' focuses on a woman and her family from the traditional Malo community living by the Chitra River in the Narail district of Bangladesh. The woman’s husband, Shyam Biswas, is a fisherman. The film paints a heartfelt picture of their struggles as a family, including their two children and three pairs of otters.
Filmmaker Shopon has dedicated the last four years to raising awareness about Bangladesh's endangered animals, communities, and environmental issues. He runs a charity development organization called Khiyo. Shopon, along with his organization’s director, Debashish Bain, will attend the COP29 conference to represent their work.
Through 'Latika,' Shopon hopes to shed light on the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and inspire action to protect the environment. The film’s screening at COP29 will be an important opportunity to share this story with a global audience and highlight the challenges faced by people living in harmony with nature.
