Three Bangladeshi films in the list of best Asian films

Three Bangladeshi films have secured spots on Asian Movie Pulse's prestigious list of the best Asian films of 2025, highlighting the growing international recognition of Bangladeshi cinema.

The influential film website Asian Movie Pulse, dedicated since 2009 to promoting Asian cinema globally through reviews, festival coverage, and filmmaker interviews, has released its annual rankings.

Since 2019, it has consistently compiled lists of the year's top Asian films, evaluating them based on artistic storytelling, innovative techniques, audience diversity, political and cultural contexts, and festival impact.

The site's report on contemporary Asian cinema notes the region's increasing prominence, with once-underrepresented countries now delivering bold, artistic works that explore themes like history, memory, and state violence in fresh ways rarely seen internationally. 

While Saudi Arabia and Turkey are honing their cinematic voices by bridging local realities with global appeal, and Iran continues to lead despite restrictions, the top spot this year went to Iranian director Jafar Panahi's ‘It Was Just an Accident’—a Palme d'Or winner at Cannes, praised worldwide for its tale of revenge following prison torture. 

Iraq's ‘Irkala: Dreams of Gilgamesh’ ranked second, depicting a child's search for his father amid national realities, followed by another Iranian film, ‘Cutting Through Rocks’, in third, and Saudi Arabia's road movie ‘Hijra’ in fourth.

Bangladesh's standout entry is Mehedi Hasan's ‘Balur Nagari’ (Sand City) at No. 5—a rare arthouse gem described as small-scale yet deeply atmospheric, with a smooth rhythm and calm pacing. 

The story centers on Emma (played by Victoria Chakma), who collects sand on her scooter for her cat's litter box, only for her routine to shatter when she discovers a severed finger. 

The film premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, earning the Grand Jury Prize, and has since screened at numerous global festivals, including a recent invitation to the Glasgow International Film Festival.

At No. 17 is Soumitra Dastidar's ‘July 36: State vs Citizen’, hailed as a vital document of resistance that revives history and amplifies brave voices. Set against Bangladesh's anti-authoritarian July Uprising, the film captures the young generation's real struggles to reshape their future through powerful, authentic imagery.

Rounding out the Bangladeshi presence at No. 19 is Nuhash Humayun's ‘Anthology 26’, an engaging anthology that captivates with extraordinary stories. Though it has some flaws, Asian Movie Pulse calls it a commendable effort.

In its concluding remarks, Asian Movie Pulse emphasises that Bangladesh can no longer be overlooked in the Asian cinema landscape. 

Bangladeshi filmmakers are confidently forging a unique identity through experimentation across genres and formats, signaling a bright and distinctive future for the country's cinematic voice.