REZWAN SHAHRIAR SUMIT director | producer
Born and raised in Bangladesh's boisterous capital, Dhaka, Sumit earned a spot at the prestigious Berlinale Talents in 2008 with his debut short film, City Life. There, industry figures like Andrzej Wajda and Stephen Daldry instilled a sense of confidence in him, leading him to realize for the first time that filmmakers are change-agents in the same way as student politicians or grassroots inventors.
Almost all of his films portray aspects of Bangladeshi life—from rekindling love during the Bengali New Year and protesting systemic injustices to humming along to the tunes of monsoon. He is particularly intrigued when real social dilemmas are depicted in built worlds.
A Tisch Fellow and alumnus of New York University’s Graduate Film Program, Sumit currently splits his time between Dhaka and the rest of the world.
CHANNEL https://vimeo.com/mypixelstory
FILMOGRAPHY
Master (Feature Length) - In festivals.
International Film Festival Rotterdam 2026, Big Screen Award winner
Sydney Film Festival 2026, Australian premiere
Melbourne International Film Festival 2026
São Paulo International Film Festival Mostra 2026, New Filmmakers Award nominee
Belgrade International Film Festival - FEST 2026
Göteborg Film Festival 2027
The Salt in Our Waters (Feature Length) - In distribution.
BFI London Film Festival 2020, world premiere
Busan International Film Festival 2020, Asian premiere
Göteborg Film Festival 2021, Ingmar Bergman Award nominee
São Paulo International Film Festival Mostra 2021, New Filmmakers Award nominee
Seattle International Film Festival 2021, New Directors Award nominee
Kolkata International Film Festival 2021, NETPAC Award winner (Best Asian Film)
Torino Film Festival 2020
Singapore International Film Festival 2020
London Indian Film Festival 2021, Closing Night film
Winner - Spike Lee Writing Grant 2016.
Winner - CNC Aide aux cinémas du monde 2018. (€80,000)
Winner - TFL Audience Design Fund 2020. (€45,000)
Winner - Bangladesh's National Film Grant 2017. ($62,500)
Selection - TFL Audience Design Workshop 2020.
Selection - TFL Meeting Event’s ‘Coming Soon’ 2020.
Selection - Film Bazaar's Co-Production Market 2016.
Selection - Film Bazaar Recommends 2019.
Selection - IEFTA’s Global Film Expression, Cannes Film Festival 2018.
A New Prophet (Feature Length) - In development.
Winner - Sloan Foundation's Feature Film Production Award 2017. ($100,000)
Winner - Sloan Foundation's Feature Film Writing Grant 2017.
Selection - Global Media Makers 2019, Film Independent.
Selection - Film Bazaar’s Co-Production Market 2018.
Participant - Cannes Producers Network 2020.
Participant - Sloan Film Summit 2017.
Dios Nunca Muere (14:00), as Producer
New York Film Festival 2018
AFI Fest 2018
Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur 2018
Aspen Shortsfest 2019
Palm Springs Shorts Fest 2019
New Hampshire Film Festival 2018
Denver Film Festival 2018
Q.U.E.E.N. (15:00), as Producer
Available on Amazon Prime, Premiered on ASPiRe TV
Sarasota Film Festival 2015
Maryland Film Festival 2015
Golden Whiskers Award - Indieworks, Best Short - NC Black Film Festival, Best Student Short - Oklahoma Urban Film Festival 2015
Bootleg Days (8:54)
Craft Award for Producing - First Run Film Festival 2016
Nestor Almendros Award for Outstanding Cinematography 2016
Luna De Cortos Short Film Festival 2018, León
Remnants of Men (13:30)
Craft Award for Cinematography - First Run Film Festival 2015
Boulevard Film Festival 2016, New York
Forever Young (7:00)
Funded and distributed by Metropolis TV, VPRO Network of Netherlands.
Moon Fairy (11:00)
Acquired by MUBI for worldwide distribution.
BUSTER Copenhagen International Film Festival for Children & Youth 2011
Zero Film Festival 2011, London
Cinekid for Professionals 2011, Amsterdam
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4081190/
EDUCATION
MFA, Graduate Film Program, NYU Tisch School of the Arts (2012-2015); Robert Jahn Scholarship 2014, Riese Award 2017 recipient
BBA, Marketing & HR Management, IBA, University of Dhaka (2005-2009)
WORK EXPERIENCE
Lead Consultant, PostPro TalentLab, The World Bank (2023 - 2024)
Producer, mypixelstory - Dhaka (2018 - present)
Graduate Associate, NYU Tisch (2014-2015)
Marketing Executive, Western Union Money Transfer BD (2010-2012)
Project Executive of TV Series, Asiatic Events Management Ltd. (2009-2010)
Intern, Half Stop Down (2009)