Robiul Alam Robi’s ‘Suraiya’ selected for Asian Project Market 2023
The Asian Project Market (APM), considered the largest film investment and co-production market in Asia, has recently unveiled its 30 selected projects for this year's edition. Among these prestigious selections is the Bangladeshi film "Suraiya", directed by Robiul Alam Robi and produced by Fazle Hasan Shishir, which has earned its spot among the talented pool of filmmakers.
The film is based on the original novel named "Suraiya" by writer Shibabrata Barman who is also a co-producer of this project.
The producer of the film, Fazle Hasan Shishir, is currently in a producing fellowship at the Busan Asian Film School. Upon contacting him, he states that, "Asian Project Market is very prestigious among the film markets of the world. We are hopeful with 'Suraiya' in aspects of international co-production and financing."
Scheduled to take place over four days, from October 7-10, at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO), the APM 2023 promises to showcase a diverse range of projects from 13 different countries.
This year, the competition rate reached its second-highest level to date, with an impressive total of 399 submissions from 50 countries.
Filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki took to his social media accounts to congratulate Robi's selection, stating, " Congratulations to everyone selected for APM this year! A special shout-out to Robiul Alam Robi from Bangladesh."
Notably, there was a surge in submissions from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, while the number of Japanese and Taiwanese projects also witnessed a significant increase, igniting expectations for the proliferation of Asian content on the global stage.
In addition to the Asian selections, two Indian films, "Chronicles of a Confession", directed by Prateek VATS, and the India-Singapore joint production "I'll Smile in September", directed by Aakash CHHABRA, have been chosen, adding to the regional representation at the market.
Not to be overshadowed, the Korean film industry boasts its own impressive lineup, with seven Korean projects making the cut for APM 2023. Directors like Yoon Danbi, Lim Sun-ae, Lee Ranhee, Kim Mi-young, Lee Dongwoo, Shin Sun, and Kang Yi Kwan represent a diverse array of talents and stories, providing invaluable insight into the future of Korean cinema.
One aspect that garnered much attention was the notable presence of alumni directors from the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) among the selected projects. The list includes directors, such as Kim Quy Bui from Vietnam, who was invited to the New Currents section at the Busan International Film Festival 2021 for "Mr Van," and Lan Tian from China and Malaysia, the recipient of the Sonje Award at the Busan International Film Festival 2022 for "Southern Summer".
Also returning to BIFF as directors are Song Fang and Makbul Mubarak, both alumni of the Asian Film Academy (AFA), further adding to the allure of this year's selection.
Several renowned directors who have previously showcased their projects at the Busan International Film Festival were also among the chosen ones. Notably, directors Fukada Koji, Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji, Kawawada Emma, Rima Das, Hsu Chao-Jen, and Hirose Nanako have all been selected for the APM 2023, contributing to the exciting diversity and quality of the lineup.