Guwahati: Assam filmmaker Rima Das’s highly anticipated sequel to her acclaimed film Village Rockstars has secured global distribution through the Bangkok-based sales company Diversion, just in time for its European premiere at the 2025 Berlinale Film Festival.
The film, which made a notable debut with a full-house screening at Berlin’s Zoo Palast theatre on February 16, stands out as the only Indian feature in the Generation 14 Plus category this year. The story follows a teenage girl’s musical aspirations while navigating the challenges of rural life.
“I’m overwhelmed by today’s premiere at Berlin. We had a packed screening at the beautiful Zoo Palast theatre, and the audience gave us so much love,” said Das, who is not only the writer and director of the film but also its producer and cinematographer.
The film has already gained significant attention, winning the Kim Jiseok Award for Best Film at the 29th Busan International Film Festival. Its predecessor, Village Rockstars, premiered at TIFF 2017 and was India’s official entry for the Academy Awards in 2019.
Das, who became a member of the Academy in 2024, has a strong history with Berlinale, with her previous film Bulbul Can Sing receiving Special Mention in 2019, and her participation as a jury member in 2020.
This sequel is a co-production between Flying River Films, Akanga Film Asia, and Bad Rabbit Pictures Co. Ltd. The film features performances by Bhanita Das, Basanti Das, Junumoni Boro, Boloram Das, and Manabendra Das.
On the distribution front, Das expressed excitement about the collaboration with Diversion, sharing, “I’m also happy to share that we are now collaborating with Diversion for sales. Looking forward to this journey and hoping to bring the film to theatres in India soon!”
The Berlinale International Film Festival is being held from February 13-23, 2025.
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