Bangladeshi short film 'The Haze' receives Honourable Mention at AIMAFF

In a proud moment for Bangladeshi independent cinema, filmmaker Nasir Khandaker’s experimental short film, “The Haze”, has won an Honourable Mention for Best Original Score / Soundtrack at the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival (AIMAFF) 2025 in Greece.

Produced by Bangla Theatre of Jahangirnagar University in association with Kavyik School of Arts, the film has also been selected for the 6th India International Star Film Festival Awards and the Amader International Short Film Festival 2025 in Kolkata.

The film tells the story of a young chain-smoker who suffers a mental and physical collapse during exam season. As he struggles with nicotine withdrawal, he experiences anxiety and emotional numbness. Shot in black and white with no dialogue, the film uses a slow pace and intense sound to make the audience feel the character's suffocation and tension. It ends suddenly, leaving viewers to wonder if the final tragedy was an accident or a result of addiction and social neglect.

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The film’s concept was developed by Sajal Das, while the cinematography was led by Nabil Mostafa and art direction was handled by Jemima Jerin Raima. The award-winning soundtrack, which plays a central role in the story, was composed by Aniruddha Hriday, with the cast featuring Golam Faruk Joy, Urmi Chakraborty, Tarek Reza, Chan Miah, and others.

Director Nasir Khandaker said, “This award is a tribute to the hard work and passion of our entire team. It encourages us to keep experimenting with the power of sound in movies.”

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He thanked the festival jury and the international audience, noting that The Haze is an attempt to explore inner human conflict and push the boundaries of Bangladeshi storytelling on the world stage.