'Paradise' becomes the first film to represent Bangladesh at the Berlinale Co-Production Market

The Berlin International Film Festival, usually called the Berlinale, is an annual film festival that filmmakers aspire to attend. This year, in the 69th edition of the festival, Bangladesh will make a debut in the renowned Berlinale Co-Production Market with Bangladeshi director Bijon Imtiaz and producer Arifur Rahman's film Paradise. Arifur Rahman, in conversation with The Daily Star, talks about their journey. 

 After the international success of their debut film Matir Projar Deshe - Kingdom of Clay Subjects, the duo joined hands with prominent German producer Roman Paul, making Paradise a Bangladesh-Germany co-production. Making it to the film in Berlinale Co-Production Market did not come easy, as the duo took small steps to reach their goal. Arifur mentioned that his education in Anthropology from Jahangirnagar University, played a vital role in the undertaking. “It is quite difficult to convince them.  One needs to understand geopolitics well before applying,” he says. He is also excited for the event because his mentor, noted filmamaker Boo Junfeng from Singapore, will also run his film in the same category.

Earlier, the film was displayed in Goa's Film Bazaar, Locarno Film Festival and Motion Picture Academy's film co-production market, and created a considerable amount of buzz among international producers and financiers. “We met Roman Paul at Film Bazaar 2017 in Goa, but it was later in Locarno that he finally came on board with us,” reveals Arifur.  

37 feature film projects from around the world have been selected for the 16th edition of the Berlinale Co-Production Market this year. The event will be held from February 9 to 13, as part of the 69th Berlin International Film Festival.