Shanghai Festival selects Aupee Karim’s film

Culture Desk

Aupee Karim starrer Debris of Desire (Mayar Jonjal) has been officially selected at the 23rd Shanghai International Film Festival in the Asian New Talent Award category.All films, previously shortlisted for the Asian New Talent Award, have been announced as Asian New Talent Award Official Selection this year since the organizers were unable to invite international juries because of the ongoing pandemic.
There will not be any competition section at the 23rd SIFF, confirmed Jiamin GU, the deputy director of Film Competition and Programming Department of the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Josim Ahmed, producer of Debris of Desire, said: “We are thrilled to have our film premiere in a top-tier festival like Shanghai. It’s time to bring our people back to the cinema.”
Aupee Karim made her debut in cinema with Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s Bachelor, for which the actor won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress in 2004. Debris of Desire marks her comeback in a lead role for the big screen after a 15-year hiatus.
The film is a joint production of Bangladesh and India and is based on Manik Bandopadhyay’s two short stories titled Bishakto Prem and Shubala.
On the opening day of the festival, July 25, the film will premiere at SFC Shanghai Film Art Centre’s hall. Afterwards, Debris of Desire will be screened at different venues on July 29 and August 1.
The film revolves around a petty criminal, who loves a prostitute and wants to run away with her savings. Things change when he meets a laid-off factory worker who is desperate to stop his wife from working as a housemaid.