Aung Rakhine
Bangladeshi film director
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Aung Rakhine (Bengali: অং রাখাইন; born October 21, 1985) is a Bangladeshi filmmaker noted for his films My Bicycle and The Last Post Office; premiered at several international festivals, including the Locarno Film Festival, the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, and Göteborg Film Festival that brings him international recognition.[1] My Bicycle is the country's first Chakma language film.[2]
Aung Rakhine | |
|---|---|
| অং রাখাইন | |
| Born | October 21, 1985 Harbang, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh |
| Alma mater | University of Development Alternative, National Institute of Mass Communication |
| Occupations | Film director, producer |
| Years active | 2014 - present |
| Notable work | My Bicycle, The Last Post Office |
The Bangladesh Film Censor Board blocked the commercial release of My Bicycle, citing language barriers and concerns over the film's portrayal of the military.[3][4] The film featured an all-local cast with no professional actors involved.[5]
Early life and education
Aung Rakhine was born in Harbang, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. He completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of Development Alternative (UODA) in 2011.[6] He also pursued a film direction course at the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.[7]
Career
Aung Rakhine has started his career in film as an executive producer at Bengal Creations Ltd from February 2015 to September 2018 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[8] Additionally, he co-founded Khona Talkies and served as a director and executive producer from 2015 to March 2019. He is one of the producers of Khona's film Made in Bangladesh directed by Rubaiyat Hossain.[9][10] Aung also served as executive producer of Giasuddin Selim's film Swapnajaal.[11]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Type | Details | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | My Bicycle | Short film | Featured at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Gothenburg Film Festival, Zanzibar International Film Festival, and Skabmagovat Film Festival (Finland). | [12] |
| 2018 | The Last Post Office | Short film | Screened at Locarno Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, Tampere Film Festival, and Hong Kong International Film Festival in 2019. | [13][14][15] |
| TBA | Mru | Feature film | Based on the ethnic group Mru, ongoing project since 2022. | [16] |
Screening campaign
On 8 August 2024, an independent film activist group organized an open screening called #CinemaDehuntis as part of a reformist movement urging the government to abolish film censorship. This campaign is a subset of the broader Student–People's uprising in Bangladesh opposing the Awami administration.[17]
Awards and recognition
Throughout his career, Aung Rakhine has received awards and recognized indigenous filmmakers from Bangladesh, showcased at numerous international film festivals.[18]
