We are delighted to share that Suraiya, directed by Robiul Alam Robi and produced by Fazle Hasan Shishir, Production by Ratherhood Initiatives Ltd. in collaboration with Made in Baniyalulu, Lightsource Film Productions (Norway), has secured a production grant from the prestigious World Cinema Fund (WCF) of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). The initial grant awarded as part of the 42nd jury session of the WCF 2025.
This achievement places Suraiya alongside eleven other international film projects selected from a formidable pool of 236 submissions originating in 63 countries.
In his comments, producer Fazle Hasan Shishir said:
“We are honoured to announce that our feature film ‘Suraiya’ has been selected for production funding by the Berlinale World Cinema Fund 2025. … This recognition … is a meaningful step for us at Ratherhood, reaffirming our commitment to telling stories rooted in Bangladesh yet resonant with global audiences.”
Notably, Suraiya had previously been selected for the Asian Project Market (APM) 2023 (Busan) and the Tasveer Film Festival & Market 2024 (Seattle) — the former in August 2023 (30 projects from 13 countries) and the latter in September 2024. These earlier selections reflect the project’s journey through international co-production and funding markets.
Suraiya is based on the novel of the same name by Shibabrata Barman and is being positioned as a cinematic story from Bangladesh for the global stage.
We at Ratherhood Initiatives Ltd. are proud to have contributed to this milestone in the film’s journey, and we look forward to the next phases of production, festival strategy, and eventual distribution. Thank you to the entire team and all collaborators for trusting us to map the film’s international trajectory.
Stay tuned for upcoming updates as Suraiya progresses toward production, festival screenings, and global release.
