World premiere of the inaugural Rohingya-language film, 'Lost Land', secured global distribution deals with Rediance prior to the Venice Film Festival
In the heart of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, a powerful drama made its premiere in the Horizons (Orizzonti) competition section. The film, titled Lost Land, is a poignant exploration of the Rohingya refugee experience, directed and written by Akio Fujimoto.
Lost Land is a Japan-France-Malaysia-Germany collaboration and the first-ever Rohingya-language film acted entirely by Rohingya. The film follows two young siblings, Shafi (4) and Somira (9), who embark on a perilous journey from a refugee camp in Bangladesh, in hopes of reuniting with their scattered family in Malaysia.
The non-professional actors, Muhammad Shofik Rias Uddin and Shomira Rias Uddin, deliver compelling performances that bring the story to life. The film is produced by Akio Fujimoto, Kazutaka Watanabe's E.x.N K.K., Panorama Films, and Elom Initiatives, with the latter's Sujauddin Karimuddin expressing the film's uniqueness, stating, "What makes this film extraordinary is that the Rohingya cast are telling their own stories."
Akio Fujimoto, who has been working on films in Southeast Asia for 12 years, is known for his socially engaged cinema. His previous work, Passage Of Life, a Japan-Myanmar collaboration, won awards at Tokyo's Asian Future section in 2017. Fujimoto's dedication to exploring themes of migration and identity is evident in Lost Land, as well as in his subsequent works, such as Along The Sea.
The film's inception came from Fujimoto's silence about the Rohingya in Myanmar due to taboo and fear of professional consequences. However, the director's empathy and commitment to telling untold stories led him to create Lost Land.
Over 200 Rohingya people took part in the film, including the young siblings who play the main roles. The story highlights the dangers faced by Rohingya refugees and their struggle for family reunion and survival. With a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes, Lost Land is set to be released on September 1, 2025.
The Bangkok International Film Festival, which was relaunched and is now scheduled for September, will also feature Lost Land. The festival's return is a significant event for the film industry, providing a platform for films like Lost Land to reach a wider audience.
In Lost Land, the Rohingya cast are telling their own stories, stories most of them have personally lived, which remain an ongoing reality for their people. The film is a testament to their resilience and a powerful reminder of the struggles faced by refugees worldwide.
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