Bangladeshi documentary ‘Reshma’ wins top award at US festival

Bangladeshi documentary “Reshma: A Struggle for Identity” has won the top prize in the Women and Work category at the ConnectHER Film Festival in Austin, Texas.

The two-day festival was held on May 1 and 2 at Austin’s Stateside Theatre, with winners announced during the closing ceremony.

Directed by Suraiya Tasnin Sathi, the documentary explores the real-life struggles and search for the identity of Suraiya Farhana Reshma. The film marks Sathi’s directorial debut.

Reacting to the achievement, Sathi said she was overwhelmed by the recognition. “When I first joined the ConnectHER fellowship film classes, I never imagined my first film would receive such an honour,” she said, crediting her mentor Novera Hasan Nikkan and her mother Kohinur Begum for their support.

Along with the award, Sathi received a $2,500 prize and a scholarship.

The documentary was developed over nearly a year through research and fieldwork under the ConnectHER fellowship programme. Cinematography was handled by Mithun Barman and Maruf Bhuiyan.

The production team included Abu Bakar Siddique (Shuvo Akand), Apon, Arif, Susmi Sarkar and Arghya Roy, while Dhrupad Communication provided technical support.