Bangladeshi cinematic Roid set for Australasian release

The critically acclaimed Bangladeshi feature Roid has officially secured theatrical distribution across Australia and New Zealand. In a deal reported by Variety, Screenxcope and DeshiEvents have partnered to bring the film to southern hemisphere audiences, with a premiere scheduled for early June.

Directed by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, Roid arrives with significant international momentum. It recently debuted in the prestigious Tiger Competition at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam and earned a selection at the Seattle International Film Festival. This marks Sumon's follow-up to his record-breaking debut, Hawa, which served as Bangladesh's 2022 Oscar entry and made history as the first Bangladeshi production to break into the US box office charts.

Produced by Bongo and Facecard Production, the film is executive produced by Apoorva Bakshi of Awedacious Originals. Set in the pre-digital era of rural Bangladesh, the narrative centres on Sadhu, a tenant farmer trapped in a cycle of longing and destiny with his unpredictable wife. Despite his repeated attempts to leave her behind in remote locations, her constant return creates a poignant exploration of human attachment.

Distributors Sakib Iftekhar and Sayed Faiz expressed immense pride in the acquisition, noting that the film's "emotional depth" and "artistic strength" will resonate strongly with both the diaspora and broader cinema-goers. The release signals a growing global appetite for distinctive Bangladeshi storytelling.