When "Ali" was selected for the Cannes Film Festival, it wasn't just a personal triumph, but a historic moment for Bangladeshi cinema. For Adnan Al Rajeev, the filmmaker behind it, the road to this milestone was anything but straightforward. It was a journey shaped by doubt, discovery, and the quiet courage it takes to start again.

He never set out to make short films. "I was never really interested in making short films," laughs the director. "I used to believe they weren't necessary for me — I was already working prominently in the industry with a tone of voice of my own. But filmmaking is a never-ending journey of discovery."

Last year, while attending Cannes as part of the producing team for the Filipino short film "Radikals", he found himself drawn into a world he hadn't paid much attention to before. Watching short films on the big screen, he saw something different — pure, fearless storytelling.

"They weren't just 'shorts'; they were powerful artistic expressions," he says. "That experience sparked something in me — a desire to explore new forms of visual narrative. I returned home with a different perspective and began studying short films, realising how they challenge and refine a filmmaker's vision. As they say, short films shape how you truly see yourself as a storyteller."

Read more

Adnan Al Rajeev’s ‘Ali’ headed to Cannes

The result was "Ali" — a film born not just from ambition, but from a genuine hunger to tell stories differently, and to challenge himself in ways he hadn't before.

Set against the rugged, untamed beauty of Sylhet, "Ali" features Al Amin and Susoma Ranjan Indrani in the lead roles. Filming, however, was far from easy. "We set out to capture images that reflected the raw, scenic beauty of nature, but reaching those places was a battle on its own," he recalls.

With little tourism infrastructure, Sylhet's hidden treasures remained just that — hidden. Bikes, boats, and long, exhausting walks became their daily routine. The team endured bad roads, blistering heat, and countless setbacks.

Yet, even as exhaustion set in, there was a fierce kind of joy that came from pushing through. "Sometimes," he says simply, "the toughest journeys lead to the most beautiful frames."

The news that "Ali" had been selected for the Official Competition section in the Palme d'Or segment in the 78th Cannes Film Festival— arrived in a way that still feels almost cinematic. At first, they missed the call — an unknown French number flashing on their phones.

"We honestly had no idea why anyone from France would be calling," he laughs. It was only later, during a video call with his producers Kristine De Leon and Tanveer Hossain, that the truth began to sink in. Even then, he found himself frozen, blank, struggling to believe it.

He was watching "Black Mirror" on Netflix at the time — a show about alternate realities and strange, parallel worlds. "For a moment, I genuinely thought I'd slipped into one," he jokes. Tears came soon after.

The first person he wanted to tell was his wife, Mehazabien Chowdhury. "She was in a shoot and couldn't pick up the phone, so I sent her a video message instead. When she finally called back, she screamed so loudly that everyone on set thought something terrible had happened."

But even as this chapter opens, Adnan is already thinking ahead. His new production house, 'katalog.', has started its journey.

"katalog. is more than just a company — it's our shared dream. For me, the ultimate goal is to develop my feature film under this banner. I also look forward to being part of Arvin Belarmino's feature projects — not only an incredible filmmaker but also my partner in katalog. — and supporting Kyla Romero, a brilliant director and screenwriter, in her feature journey."

Mentioning that this is just the beginning, the director also shared that they envision katalog. as a platform that unites fresh voices and experienced talents, fostering collaboration across borders.

Read more

Shuvoo steals the show with a 19-second teaser

"Our mission goes beyond filmmaking — we aim to build a creative bridge between Bangladesh and the Philippines, connecting our rich, untold stories to the world. Through katalog., we aspire to give voice to narratives that deserve to be seen, heard, and felt — bringing the authenticity of our cultures to the international stage, one powerful story at a time."

Risk-taking has always been part of Adnan's nature. From directing "@18" to producing stories like "Mohanagar" and films like "Priyo Maloti", and most recently "Chokkor 302", he has never shied away from telling bold, sometimes uncomfortable stories. But it's not recklessness — it's something much deeper.

"It takes a lot of courage to try, to fail, and to keep trying until you get where you truly want to be," he says. "Taking risks is essential. I trust in my craft. If I fall, I'll rise again."

There's no arrogance in his voice when he says it — just the quiet certainty of someone who knows that the real magic lies not in the destination, but in the journey itself. "And right now, for me, that journey is just beginning," he concludes.