Venice Award-Winning Film ‘Lost Land’ to Premiered in Dhaka

Les Fleurs du Manguier – Lost Land (2025), an acclaimed feature film portraying the plight of Rohingya refugees by Japanese director Akio Fujimoto and co-produced by Japan, France, Germany, and Malaysia, had a special screening at the Alliance Française de Dhaka on 2 May 2026.

Winner of the Special Orizzonti Jury Prize at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, the 138-minute film follows two Rohingya siblings, Shafi (4) and Somira (9), as they leave a refugee camp in Bangladesh and embark on a perilous journey to Malaysia in search of their family.

Made in the Rohingya language, with both French and English subtitles, the film highlights the broader human dimensions of displacement, particularly the importance of safety, security, and dignity for Rohingya communities in Bangladesh and beyond.

The film’s portrayal of vulnerable journeys also echoes the urgent need to protect individuals from risks that may lead to dangerous or irregular migration pathways, while promoting livelihoods, safety, and self-reliance.

The screening, held at 5:00 PM at Auditorium Nouvelle Vague, was open to all and was followed by an engaging and interactive discussion. The session brought together audience members to reflect on the Rohingya crisis, exploring its ongoing challenges and humanitarian dimensions, as well as discussing the future trajectory and global outreach of the film.

France supports the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Rohingya refugees and continues to play an active role in their assistance through sustained financial support and political engagement.

About the Director

Akio Fujimoto is a celebrated filmmaker known for his focus on Southeast Asian migrant experiences. His previous works, Passage of Life (2017) and Along the Sea (2020), have received international acclaim for their sensitive portrayal of displacement and human rights. Drawing on personal and cultural experiences, his work blends fiction and documentary with subtlety and humanism, often focusing on the lives of people on the margins.

This screening is organized in collaboration with the UNHCR, Alliance Française de Dhaka, and the Embassy of France in Bangladesh. – Press release