Rajid Season’s Elijah to Screen at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
Progga News Desk:
Bangladeshi-American filmmaker Rajid Season’s short film Elijah has been officially selected for the main competition section of the prestigious Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) in Australia. Scheduled to take place from August 14 to 24, this year’s festival received more than 1,400 submissions, with only 75 films selected for screening, representing 31 different languages. The IFFM is celebrating its 16th edition this year.
Alongside Elijah, nine other Bengali-language films will also be showcased, including Boksho Bondi by Tonusree Das and Soumyananda Sahi, Puraton by Suman Ghosh, Saba by Maksud Hossain, and A Doll Made Up of Clay from Yoruba by Kokeb Gebrehawaria. The festival will also feature restored classics by legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak—A River Called Titas (1973) and The Cloud-Capped Star (1960).
A recent feature in The Times of India stated that Elijah highlights the growing demand and potential for diverse South Asian stories on the global stage.
The film centers on Haider, a Bangladeshi immigrant living in New York, and his family’s struggle for survival. As the Uber-driven corporate economy threatens the livelihood of traditional yellow cab drivers, Haider faces financial devastation. At the same time, his only child comes out as transgender—two life-changing crises that plunge him into deep emotional conflict.
Director Rajid Season said ,“I am truly honored that IFFM has chosen Elijah for its official screening. This festival has long been a respected platform for filmmakers and audiences from the Indian subcontinent. In Elijah, we tell stories of South Asian families and immigrant working-class lives that are often absent from mainstream cinema. I hope the South Asian diaspora in Melbourne will have the opportunity to experience this film.”Lead actor Ejaz Alam added ,“Although I’ve spent years performing on stage, Elijah marks my debut as the lead in a feature film. Director Rajid’s dedication and sincerity inspired me to take on this role. I am deeply grateful for the praise the film has received.”
Source: Richard Kwolek,
Public Relations, Image Maker Films,
New York, NY, USA.
