Bangladesh Feminist Archives

February 2025 – Kraati | Transition (2024), an independent short film by first-time Bangladeshi female filmmaker Dibarah Mahboob, has been officially selected for the Anatolia International Film Festival. This marks an incredible achievement for a film made by a female without any prior industry experience, funding, or network support—either in Bangladesh or abroad.

Led entirely by an independent, women-heavy team, Kraati is a testament to the power of female-driven storytelling in a film industry where gender barriers and lack of access often stifle new voices. The film’s selection at an international festival proves that with the right funding channels, more women filmmakers could break through, bringing fresh narratives and perspectives to the screen.

A Story Told Through a Female Gaze
Written, directed, and produced by Dibarah Mahboob, Kraati explores female agency, patriarchal backlash, and rebellion through a distinctly female lens—an underrepresented perspective in Bangladeshi cinema.

The film features two debut actresses, Tasneem Islam Arna and Palama Ahmed, both now in the running for the Best Female Lead category at the festival:

• Tasneem Islam Arna is a dancer, fire-spinner, event organizer, and freelance communications professional, formerly with UNDP.
• Palama Ahmed is a former international pageant winner, model, and chef-in-training, currently competing in Deepto TV Star Hunt.

Behind the scenes, Kraati is entirely women-led, proving that independent female filmmakers can break industry norms when given the opportunity:

• Dibarah Mahboob, the film’s writer, director, producer, makeup artist, and actor, is a Chevening Fellow with an MA in Visual Anthropology from Goldsmiths, University of London. As one of Bangladesh’s most active female public art (mural) artists, she has navigated a hyper-conservative, patriarchal society to carve her own space in filmmaking—despite having no prior industry connections.

Local and Global Recognition
Prior to its international festival debut, Kraati was publicly screened for the first and only time last month in Dhaka at the Stories Untold Short Film Showcase at Naveed’s Comedy Club. Alongside two other grant-winning indie short films, the sold-out show highlighted the growing demand for independent, feminist cinema in Bangladesh.

In a film industry that often sidelines women, Kraati is proof that female filmmakers can tell powerful stories when given the space and resources. This selection at Anatolia International Film Festival is a major milestone, not just for the film, but for the future of women-led independent cinema in South Asia.

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