Bangkok-based gross sales outfit Diversion has acquired worldwide rights to “Sand Metropolis,” the debut function from Bangladeshi filmmaker Mahde Hasan, which is able to world premiere within the Proxima Competitors on the 2025 Karlovy Range Worldwide Movie Pageant.

The movie is produced by Rubaiyat Hossain and Aadnan Imtiaz Ahmed beneath their Khona Talkies banner, in affiliation with Cinema Cocoon. The manufacturing group beforehand collaborated on Hossain’s “Made in Bangladesh,” which premiered on the 2019 Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant.

“Sand Metropolis” gained the CNC Growth Award at Locarno Open Doorways and took part in trade packages together with Produire au Sud, La Fabrique Cinéma in Cannes, and Movie Bazaar in India. The challenge additionally obtained manufacturing help from Visions Sud Est.

The narrative follows two parallel storylines centered across the aspect of sand. Emma, performed by Victoria Chakma in her display screen debut, collects sand weekly for her cat litter throughout scooter rides across the metropolis. Her routine takes a darkish flip when she discovers a severed finger with a crimson-painted nail within the sand, resulting in an uncommon obsession with the grisly discover.

In the meantime, Hasan, portrayed by Mostafa Monwar, works at a sand-washing plant the place he steals materials to create glass at dwelling. His solitary passion evolves into grandiose goals of constructing an enormous glass manufacturing unit, finally turning into a damaging fantasy.

Monwar brings important credentials to the function, having gained greatest efficiency on the 2016 Singapore Worldwide Movie Pageant for “Stay from Dhaka” and showing in Busan choice “Made in Bangladesh.”

The movie is lensed by Mathieu Giombini, director of the cinematography division at La Fémis, including European arthouse sensibilities to the Bangladeshi manufacturing.

Diversion secured worldwide rights excluding Bangladesh and Switzerland, with Mai Meksawan from the gross sales firm negotiating with producer Aadnan Imtiaz Ahmed.

The acquisition positions “Sand Metropolis” for worldwide competition circulation following its Karlovy Range premiere, marking one other breakthrough for rising Bangladeshi cinema on the worldwide stage.