Towfique Elahi’s feature film ‘Neelpodmo’ has won the Best Feature Film award at the Tokyo Lift-Off Film Festival 2025. The film, produced by Impress Telefilm and starring Runa Khan, earned international recognition by surpassing several international entries at the prestigious festival.
The announcement came through an official email from the organisers, though director Towfique Elahi admitted he discovered the news a little late. Elahi said, “The film was under evaluation based on several criteria. I had been receiving regular updates, but I never imagined ‘Neelpodmo’ would win Best Feature Film. This is not just my achievement — it belongs to my entire team and our streaming partner iScreen.”
Elahi described ‘Neelpodmo’ as a research-based project that highlights the lives, rights, and struggles of sex workers in Daulatdia, one of Bangladesh’s largest brothel areas. The film features a strong cast, including Runa Khan, Rashed Mamun Apu, Rokeya Prachy, Sujat Shimul, Shahed Ali, and A K Azad Setu in significant roles.
The film had its world premiere at the Suchitra Sen International Bengali Film Festival in New York and was also screened earlier this year at the Dhaka International Film Festival. This win at Tokyo Lift-Off marks its first major international recognition.
Elahi expressed his hope that the film’s success would open more doors for Bangladeshi independent cinema on global platforms. He added that projects addressing sensitive social issues deserve more attention both at home and abroad.
The Tokyo Lift-Off Film Festival is one of the noted events under the Lift-Off Global Network, which showcases promising films from across the world. ‘Neelpodmo’’s victory is being seen as a proud moment for Bangladesh’s film industry.
