REZWAN SHAHRIAR SUMIT director | writer | producer
Sumit was born and raised in Bangladesh's boisterous capital Dhaka. City Life, his first short, earned him a place at the prestigious Berlinale Talents as an up-and-coming director in 2008. There, the likes of Andrzej Wajda, Stephen Daldry instilled a sense of confidence in him. For the first time, he realized filmmakers are change-agents in the same way as student politicians or grassroots inventors.
Almost all of his films portray aspects of life as Bangladeshi - from rekindling love in Bangla's New Year to protesting the war criminals of 1971. He is intrigued when real social dilemmas are depicted in built worlds.
Sumit attended the Graduate Film Program of New York University as a Tisch Fellow. Currently, he splits his time between New York & Dhaka.
FILMOGRAPHY
The Salt in Our Waters (Feature Length) - In festivals.
BFI London Film Festival 2020, world premiere
Busan International Film Festival 2020, Asian premiere
Göteborg Film Festival 2021, Ingmar Bergman Award nominee
Seattle International Film Festival 2021, New Directors Award nominee
Kolkata International Film Festival 2021, NETPAC Award winner (Best Asian Film)
Torino Film Festival 2020
Singapore International Film Festival 2020
London Indian Film Festival 2021, Closing Night film
Winner - Spike Lee Writing Grant 2016.
Winner - CNC Aide aux cinémas du monde 2018. (€80,000)
Winner - TFL Audience Design Fund 2020. (€45,000)
Winner - Bangladesh's National Film Grant 2017. ($62,500)
Selection - TFL Audience Design Workshop 2020.
Selection - TFL Meeting Event’s ‘Coming Soon’ 2020.
Selection - Film Bazaar's Co-Production Market 2016.
Selection - Film Bazaar Recommends 2019.
Selection - IEFTA’s Global Film Expression, Cannes Film Festival 2018.
A New Prophet (Feature Length) - In development.
Winner - Sloan Foundation's Feature Film Production Award 2017. ($100,000)
Winner - Sloan Foundation's Feature Film Writing Grant 2017.
Selection - Global Media Makers 2019, Film Independent & US Dept. of State.
Selection - Film Bazaar’s Co-Production Market 2018.
Participant - Cannes Producers Network 2020.
Participant - Sloan Film Summit 2017.
Dios Nunca Muere (14:00), as Producer
New York Film Festival 2018
AFI Fest 2018
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2018
Aspen Shortsfest 2019
Palm Springs Shorts Fest 2019
New Hampshire Film Festival 2018
Denver Film Festival 2018
Q.U.E.E.N. (15:00), as Producer
Available on Amazon Prime, Premiered on ASPiRe TV
Sarasota Film Festival 2015
Maryland Film Festival 2015
Golden Whiskers Award - Indieworks, Best Short - NC Black Film Festival, Best Student Short - Oklahoma Urban Film Festival 2015
Bootleg Days (8:54)
Craft Award for Producing - First Run Film Festival 2016
Nestor Almendros Award for Outstanding Cinematography 2016
Luna De Cortos Short Film Festival 2018, León
Remnants of Men (13:30)
Craft Award for Cinematography - First Run Film Festival 2015
Boulevard Film Festival 2016, New York
Forever Young (7:00)
Funded and distributed by Metropolis TV, VPRO Network of Netherlands.
Moon Fairy (11:00)
Acquired by MUBI for worldwide distribution.
Copenhagen International Film Festival for Children & Youth 2011
Zero Film Festival 2011, London
Cinekid for Professionals 2011, Amsterdam
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4081190/
EDUCATION
MFA, Graduate Film Program, NYU Tisch School of the Arts (2012-2015); Robert Jahn Scholarship 2014, Riese Award 2017 recipient
BBA, Marketing & HR Management, IBA, University of Dhaka (2005-2009)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Creative Producer, Global Media Makers Workshop - Dhaka (2020)
Graduate Associate, NYU Tisch (2014-2015)
Marketing Executive, Western Union Money Transfer BD (2010-2012)
Project Coordinator of TV Series, Asiatic Events Management Ltd. (2009-2010)
Intern, Half Stop Down (2009)