The film was inspired by forced climate change and is the first Bangladeshi film to ever win an Academy-qualifying Award
Nuhash Humayun’s South Asian film shares the story of two sisters seeking shelter in a strange new world; while battling their own inner demons. Inspired by the devastating affects of climate change in Bangladesh, whose people are the most affected by the climate crisis yet the least culpable.
MOSHARI was awarded two Oscar®-qualifying awards at Atlanta Film Festival and Short Shorts & Asia, in addition to winning the Grand Jury at SXSW where the Bangladeshi short premiered.
Having just taken home the Best Horror Award at Hollyshorts Film Festival, the Best Short Fiction Award at Melbourne International and the Audience Award at Fantasia, the film will now screen at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival, alongside the OSCAR-qualifying film festivals Nashville and Calgary.
The end of the world forces two sisters together, inside a mosquito net (moshari), just to survive—but first they must survive each other.
Writer/Director Nuhash Humayun is interested in the intersection of genre with South Asian identity politics. He is the first Sundance Screening Fellow from Bangladesh. This award-winning director’s credits include MOSHARI and SINCERELY YOURS, DHAKA which was acquired by Netflix. His upcoming film MOVING BANGLADESH received support from the Sundance Institute, Film Independent, the Sloan Foundation, Cannes Marche du Film, the Hollywood Foreign Press and ScreenCraft.
This important story also won the Best Narrative Short at Atlanta Film Festival, The Best Short Fiction at Melbourne International Film Festival, The Jury Award at Bucheon International Fantastic Fest and the Gold Audience Award for Best Asian Short at Fantasia Film Festival. Other notable festival selections include Sydney Film Festival, DreadCenter Film Festival and Palm Springs ShortFest.
Now this award-winning film could also be on its way to the OSCAR’s!
Nuhash also advocates for humanitarian causes through storytelling. Climate change, menstrual hygiene, rural sanitation are some pressing issues Nuhash focuses on, working with various INGOS. He hopes that universal themes such as family, love, and survival will help disband archaic prejudices. Humanyun aims to portray Bangladesh free from stereotypes and Western assumptions about their diverse culture.
Director Quote “Bangladesh is often portrayed for its poverty, oppression or cheap labour. And while those things exist, they make us survivors. And as survivors, we have powerful stories to tell. My goal is to portray South Asia free from stereotypes and assumptions. Our Bangladeshi cast and crew represent our inherent resilience in the face of global disaster. In the ongoing conversation about climate change, it is vital that our voices are heard.”
