Kamar Ahmad Simon’s highly anticipated film "Shikolbaha" has earned a prestigious nomination in the main competition of the Golden Goblet Awards at the Shanghai International Film Festival, Asia's largest film festival. The film is a collaborative production between Germany's renowned Wiedemann Bros. and Bangladesh's Studio Biging.

This year, the festival received over 3,700 submissions from 105 countries. However, only 14 films, representing nations such as Bangladesh, Spain, Argentina, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Iran, were selected for the main competition, highlighting the significant achievement of "Shikolbaha."

The film’s journey began in 2014 when its script, initially titled "Sankhadhvani," was one of the ten selected for Cannes' La Fabric Cinema du Munde. Simon’s project gained further recognition when he was chosen for the Berlin Film Festival’s World Cinema Fund competitive grant for two consecutive years. Additionally, "Shikolbaha" received a script grant from the Gothenburg Film Festival and a National Film Grant.

Sara Afrin, the Bangladeshi producer of "Shikolbaha," remarked on the challenges faced during production. European programmers initially expressed reservations about the film’s poster, which featured a woman in a hijab, representing a Bangladeshi narrative. Despite these hurdles, the film secured an invitation to compete at Asia’s foremost film festival.

Kamar Ahmad Simon explained the prolonged production timeline, stating, "Shikolbaha is my first script. However, before commencing this project, I was involved in making 'Shunte Ki Pao!', 'Neel Mukut,' and 'Andydin...' The process from script to film takes considerable time for me. Unlike many filmmakers who release films annually, I immerse myself deeply in a project, allowing it to evolve over years."

The nomination of "Shikolbaha" in the Golden Goblet Awards is a testament to Simon’s dedication and the collaborative efforts of the international production team. As anticipation builds, audiences and critics alike are eager to see how this film, rooted in Bangladeshi storytelling and produced with international cooperation, will resonate on the global stage.

The Shanghai International Film Festival’s recognition of "Shikolbaha" underscores the growing prominence of Bangladeshi cinema in the global arena, promising a bright future for the country's film industry.