INTERNATIONAL AWARDS: SSAFF 2016
The Seattle South Asian Film Festival (SSAFF) is one of the largest and most prestigious South Asian film festivals in the United States, organized by Tasveer, a Seattle-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting social change through South Asian film, art, and storytelling. SSAFF showcases critically acclaimed films from across South Asia and its diaspora, bringing together filmmakers, actors, and audiences for cross-cultural dialogue and cinematic celebration.
Aynabaji at SSAFF 2016
In 2016, the critically acclaimed Bangladeshi film Aynabaji, directed by Amitabh Reza Chowdhury and starring Chanchal Chowdhury, was selected as the Opening Night Film at the Seattle South Asian Film Festival.
Md. Assaduzzaman Sokal, one of the producers of Aynabaji, attended the festival along with lead actor Chanchal Chowdhury, representing Bangladesh on an international platform.
Significance and Recognition
The film’s selection for Opening Night signaled the growing impact and quality of Bangladeshi cinema on the global stage.
It also marked an important milestone in the international journey of Aynabaji, which went on to become a cultural phenomenon and one of the highest-grossing Bangladeshi films of its time.1]
Best Film –“Aynabaji” was acknowledged as the Best Film at 11th Seattle South Asian Film Festival (SSAFF 2016).[52][53]
FILM – WEBSERIES
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS: Rickshaw Girl: 39th CICFF
Rickshaw Girl, directed by Amitabh Reza Chowdhury and executive produced by Md. Assaduzzaman Sokal of Half Stop Down, won the prestigious Best of Fest Award at the 39th CICFF in November 2022. Selected from over 300 international entries, the film was recognized for its compelling storytelling and social themes .
About CICFF
Founded in 1983 by Facets Multi-Media, the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival is the world’s largest annual children’s film festival, showcasing around 250 films from 40 countries each October.
The Best of Fest Award marks the highest recognition at CICFF, highlighting Rickshaw Girl as a standout in global children’s cinema. Best Live‐Action Feature – 2nd Prize at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (2022) [55][56][57][58][59]
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS: The MVFF Audience Awards
Our intent at MVFF is to let the films stand on their own, free of studio influence, advertising, and award campaigning. The local filmmaker you meet in the grocery store shares equal footing with past and future Oscar winners. We like to believe that this approach creates a more relaxed, inviting, filmmaker-friendly atmosphere.
The MVFF Audience Awards represent the people’s choice favorites at the festival. The overall prizewinner scored highest across all categories. Other winners scored top in each of the festival’s sections: US Cinema, World Cinema, Valley of the Docs and Children’s FilmFest, as well as specialty categories. The film is listed with its director.
At the 44th MillValley Film Festival (October2021), Rickshaw Girl was honored with the “Audience Favorite,” award in the Family Films category—based on audience voting at screenings 2021. [60][61][62][63]
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS: Rickshaw Girl : Women Film Critics Circle
Women Film Critics Circle -Winners BEST KEPT SECRET – Overlooked Challenging Film Gems 2022- Rickshaw Girl.[68][69][70]
It’s a cross-cultural story spotlighting resilience, courage, and female empowerment— core values Day embraced by the WFCC—but it was lesser known in mainstream Western media.
The WFCC highlighted it as an “overlooked challenging film gem”, emphasizing the importance of discovering compelling cinema outside the usual awards cycle
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS: Prescott International Film Festival
“Rickshaw Girl.” ‘Best Feature Film’ at the Prescott International Film Festival[71][72][73] Rickshaw Girl earned the Best Feature Film award at the Prescott International Film Festival—an accolade highlighted by multiple sources, such as UNB and TBS News.
About the Prescott International Film Festival
Nestled in the tall pine forests of Prescott, Arizona, this annual, filmmaker-friendly festival has been spotlighting independent cinema since around 2010: 5 days each July— screenings take place across multiple venues in Prescott, including Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, Elks Theatre, Hendrix Theatre, and others.
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS: The Salt in Our Waters : the 26th KIFF
NonajolerKabbo (TheSaltinOurWaters), a 2020 Bangladeshi drama directed by Rezwan Shahriar Sumit, received significant acclaim at the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival, which ran from January 8–15, 2021.
At the 26th KIFF, NonajolerKabbo won the prestigious NETPAC Award in the Asian Select category, beating five other entries.
The Kolkata International Film Festival is one of India’s oldest international film festivals, held annually in Kolkata since 1995. At the 2020 edition (the 26th KIFF), NonajolerKabbo was part of the Asian Select lineup, among films from across Asia .
NATIONAL AWARDS:
The National Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony held annually in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is considered to be the most prominent lm award ceremony in Bangladesh. The National Film Awards were established in 1975 by the government of Bangladesh. Every year, a national panel appointed by the government selects the winning entries. The juries are appointed by the Bangladesh Film Censor Board, a department under the Ministry of Information of the government of Bangladesh.
Half Stop Downf Stop Down production’s film “Aynabaji” wins National Film Award in seven categories.[54]
Nonajoler Kabbo wins National Film Award in seven categories[78][79][80] Meril Prothom Alo Awards
Meril Prothom Alo Awards or Prothom Alo Awards is an annual Bangladeshi awards ceremony honouring cinematic achievements in Bangladeshi Film Industry.The awards, rst presented in 1998 and since then the awards are given every year at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). The awards ceremony was organised and held by Bangladesh’s largest newspaper Daily Prothom Alo and Square Toiletries Limited. The awards include nominations in more than 30 categories and 2 honorary awards. Meril Prothom Alo Awards is Bangladesh’s equivalent to America’s Academy Awards.
Md Assaduzzaman’s produced fiction and Films received Maril Prothom Alo award total 4 (Four) times.
In the year 2008, Best Screenplay Award for Drama “Sei bhoboney”.
In the year 2008, Best Director Award for TV ction “Ekti Phone Kora Jabe Please?” In the year 2014, Best Director Award for Drama “Surface”
In the year 2016, Best Film Director Award for Film “Aynabaji”.
OTHER INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL AWARDS:
Md Assaduzzaman Produced and Amitabh Reza Chowdhury directed for Bangladesh Tourism Board film “Land of Stories” won the prize at the ‘Zagreb Tourfilm Festival’.
Won Silver Award at the 5th Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, a major international festival for corporate films and documentaries. Received the Diamond Award at Das Goldene Stadttor (The Golden City Gate) during ITB Berlin 2015, a prestigious tourism multimedia prize.
Awarded Silver Award at the Baku International Tourism Film Festival, recognizing excellence in tourism film promotion.
CIFFT (International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals) is a prestigious global network recognizing excellence in tourism films. making its CIFFT nomination another testament to its global appeal. Cultural Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh (CJFB) Performance Award- Munshigiri Best Web Film[45]
Assaduzzaman Sokal won the trab critic award for Rickshaw Girl[46] The film “Gayeb” was in 3 Minute Film Competition and Festival2022 ” organized by Bangladesh Shilpaliala Academy and Got Third Prize of the open for all category.[47][48]
Assaduzzaman Sokal won Best Executive Producer in the 34th Trub award for Rickshaw Girl.[49]
