National Award-winning filmmaker Rima Das’ third Assamese feature, Bulbul Can Sing will have its European Premiere at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival 2019 in competition in Generation 14 Plus category.
Bulbul Can Sing is described as a visceral coming-of-age drama about a teenage girl, Bulbul, living in a village in Assam, fighting her way through love and loss as she figures out who she really is.
While returning from the Unites States after wrapping the Oscar campaign of Village Rockstars, the official entry from India to the Oscar, which didn’t make it to the shortlist, Rima Das shares her joy about the fantastic journey of her third feature, Bulbul Can Sing and the Berlinale selection.
Rima Das exclaims, “Bulbul Can Sing is selected for Berlinale! I can’t explain in words how happy I am. After the film premiered at Toronto, I didn’t think we would get an invitation from Berlin because top festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, and Venice usually ask for a World Premiere. They accept other films only in case of an exception! So it’s a huge achievement.”
She also adds, “After getting immense love and appreciation from people for Village Rockstars, it was very challenging for me to come out with a new film which would meet people’s expectation. But seeing the extraordinary journey of Bulbul I feel more hopeful now. I want to thank my family, friends and film team and everyone who believes in my movies and me. Yes, we will keep our faith alive to keep dreaming.” she signs off before boarding the plane to India.
The third Assamese feature of writer-director-producer Rima Das, Bulbul Can Sing had its World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival 2018 followed by the South Asian Premiere at Busan International Film Festival and Indian Premiere at the 20th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival where it won the Golden Gateway Award in the India Gold competition category.
Rima Das debut film as a writer-director-producer, Man with Binoculars (Antardrishti) premiered at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2016. Village Rockstars, her second feature, premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2017 under Discovery Section. The film has screened at more than 70 renowned film festivals and has won 44 awards including 4 National Awards (Best Feature, Best Editing, Audiography and Child Artist). Her third feature, Bulbul Can Sing had its World Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival 2018 followed by the South Asian Premiere at Busan International Film Festival and Indian Premiere at the 20th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival where it won the Golden Gateway Award in the India Gold competition category.