Cannes Festival's social media feature Adnan Al Rajeev’s short film 'Ali'

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Dhaka, May 2 – Bangladeshi filmmaker Adnan Al Rajeev’s short film 'Ali' has been officially recognized by the social media platforms of the prestigious Festival de Cannes, marking a proud moment for the country’s film industry.

The announcement was made on Friday through the festival’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts, listing 'Ali' among the 11 films selected for the Short Film Competition at Cannes 2025.

A total of 4,781 films were submitted, out of which 9 fiction and 2 animated films were chosen. Five of the selected works were directed by women.

The Cannes post on its official Facebook and Instagram pages stated, “The films of the Short Film Competition #Cannes2025 in pictures. The Palme d’Or of the short film will be awarded by the Jury chaired by Maren Ade at the Palmares ceremony, on Saturday, May 24, 2025.”

Following the announcement, Adnan Al Rajeev shared his emotional reaction on Facebook, reflecting on the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

"My lifelong dream was to one day have my work featured on the official social media page of Festival de Cannes. That dream came true today," Rajeev wrote.

He added, "My work on the Cannes page — what a beautiful feeling. My heart trembles with fear, but it still feels good."

"My name will be there, our name will be there, my country’s name will be there. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. I feel scared — I don’t know why!," Rajeev shared in his emotional Facebook post.

The recognition of 'Ali' at Cannes adds to the growing presence of Bangladeshi filmmakers on the global stage, and comes as a major milestone in Adnan Al Rajeev’s career.

More details on the selected films can be found on the official Cannes link: - UNB