Bangladesh Submits ‘Boli’ for Oscars 2025 International Feature

Bangladesh has picked writer-director Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury’s award-winning characteristic debut Boli (The Wrestler) as its choice to the 2025 Oscars in the most effective worldwide characteristic movie class. The film received the 2023 Busan Worldwide Movie Competition’s New Currents prize, and it was warmly obtained by critics on the Shanghai Worldwide Movie Competition in June. 

The film follows an eccentric fisherman who resolves to beat the present native champion at Boli Khela, a conventional type of wrestling from Chattogram, Bangladesh’s second-largest metropolis. Set within the late Nineties in a distant coastal village, the story weaves collectively native myths about dervishes (Sufis), mahi sawars (fish riders) and mysterious creatures believed to be angels in disguise.

Stated Chowdhury in his director’s assertion: “Probably the most important components of this film is the mystic nature of the coastal space. In contrast to common wrestling, ‘Boli Khela’ is sort of slow-paced and extra about approach and endurance. Boli blends mysticism with common discourses.”

The movie co-stars Nasir Uddin Khan, Angel Noor and AKM Itmam and Priyam Archi (No Floor Beneath The Ft, final yr’s Oscar submission from Bangladesh). It was produced by Piplu R. Khan. 

Chowdhury is predicated in Toronto and obtained a postgraduate diploma in filmmaking from Centennial School. Previous to Boli, he wrote, directed and produced three quick movies: Tooth (2016), Dhaka 2.00 (2017) and Rowai (2018). 

Bangladesh has submitted movies for the Academy Award for finest worldwide characteristic movie since 2002, however the nation has not but been nominated.

The shortlist for the 97th Academy Awards‘ finest worldwide characteristic contenders will likely be introduced Dec. 17. Nominations will likely be introduced Jan. 17 and the winners of the 2025 Academy Awards will likely be unveiled Sunday, March 2.