Entertainment Desk:

Bangladeshi short film Sole Mate has been officially selected for competition at the inaugural Antares International Film Festival, to be held in Moscow, Russia, from August 6 to 10.

Directed by first-time filmmaker Adel Imam Anup, the four-minute documentary will compete in the festival’s official documentary segment.

Festival organizers described its selection as an “outstanding achievement,” noting that Sole Mate was chosen from over 2,400 global submissions, with only 104 films from 29 countries making it to the final lineup.

Speaking on the recognition, Anup said, “As an independent filmmaker, it’s truly an honour to have my first work selected for an international festival. Honestly, it feels unbelievable.”

He added that filmmaking in Bangladesh comes with many challenges, but he remains grateful to those who supported his journey.

Sole Mate tells the story of a pair of shoes; imagining the emotions and experiences they might share if they could speak.

The film is uniquely crafted without showing any human faces, relying instead on visuals of feet and a voiceover by Rezwan Kabir Kallol. Konok Khandakar also contributed to the filming.

The story was co-written by Anup and Kallol, with a screenplay by Sheikh Qorashani. Cinematography and editing were done by Asaduzzaman Abir, with Fazle Rabbi assisting behind the camera.

The short film has been screened twice so far in Dhaka, including its premiere at the “Friendly Neighbourhood Filmmaker Fest (FNF)” held at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.