A short film produced by students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) has gained international recognition after winning an Honorable Mention at a prestigious film festival in Greece.
Titled “The Haze”, the 16-minute experimental short was created under the student-led cultural group Bangla Theatre. It received an Honorable Mention in the Best Original Score and Soundtrack category at the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival 2025 and has been selected for the Best Original Score in Short Film category at the SouthEast Academy International Film Festival in the Philippines.
Shot in black and white and entirely without dialogue, the film relies almost entirely on sound and music to tell the story of a man struggling with nicotine addiction. Its unconventional approach has drawn attention internationally, with critics highlighting the soundtrack as the film’s most powerful storytelling element.
“The achievement is not just personal,” said music composer Aniruddha Hridoy. “It represents a significant moment for Bangladeshi film music. In The Haze, music is not a supplement to dialogue—it is the language of the film.”
Directed and edited by Nasir Khandaker, a student of JU’s Department of Bangla, the film features a diverse cast including members of Bangla Theatre, rickshaw puller Chan Mia, and Professor Tareq Reza. Khandaker said the casting reflected the group’s philosophy: “Teachers, students, and working people stood shoulder to shoulder on the set. Everyone was a collaborator.”
Production began in June 2024 on a limited budget, with scenes shot across the JU campus. Cinematography was handled by Nabil Mostafa, while post-production—including music composition—continued for four months, with the final cut completed in November.
Composer Hridoy noted the artistic challenge of holding the audience’s attention for 16 minutes without dialogue: “Music creates the story. It was a challenge, but one we were willing to take.”
The story concept, developed by Sajal Das, explores withdrawal, despair, and emotional fragmentation, portraying the mental distress of a chain smoker attempting to quit nicotine.
Before its success in Greece, The Haze was officially selected at India’s Sixth India International Star Film Festival Awards and Kolkata’s Amader International Short Film Festival.
Founded on Pahela Baishakh in 2022, Bangla Theatre began as a campus cultural movement and has since expanded into visual storytelling. Its previous production, Half to Infinity, was screened at multiple festivals in Italy and India.
Golam Faruk Joy, one of the group’s founders, said the recognition validates their collective approach: “We started with no grand plans—only dreams and honest intent. This international recognition proves those dreams were not in vain.”
The Haze demonstrates how grassroots creativity, strong storytelling, and collaborative effort can bring Bangladeshi independent cinema to the global stage.
