Bangladeshi filmmaker has been honoured with the Best Emerging Director award at the Astar Awards for his film “Boli: The Wrestler.” Earlier, he had received nominations in two categories—Best Screenwriter and Best Debut Director—for the same project. Just three days after the nominations were announced, the good news arrived on Wednesday (August 27) confirming his win.

Bangladeshi filmmaker Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury has received two prestigious nominations at the newly launched Astar Awards, organised by the International Institute of Film, Science and Arts (IIFSA) in New York.

Local cinemas have been awaiting welcoming new releases, from the beginning of the new year. Continuing this momentum, two government-funded films are hitting theatres nationwide today.

The Dhaka International Film Festival is returning for its 23rd edition, scheduled to run over nine days from January 11 to January 19 next year.

The Asian Project Market is a crucial event within the Busan International Film Festival, where 30 films from various countries are chosen for potential production and distribution deals. “Dhakar Nagin” has earned its place among this esteemed lineup — a recognition that underscores Iqbal's growing influence in the Asian film scene.

The judges at Busan described Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury's "The Wrestler" as an extraordinary single-round match, magically narrated.

Describing "Boli," the judges of the New Currents section at the Busan festival acclaimed, "Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury's film 'The Wrestler' is like a gripping single-round wrestling match, where the story is magically told."