Khona Talkies was established with the vision of using young Bangladeshi talent to produce films locally with foreign co-production. Khona Talkies has produced and acquired a few award winning and internationally acclaimed as well as locally significant independent films. Khona Talkies attempts to work with themes that are otherwise silenced and marginalized.
Khona was a 12th century female Bengali poet. She was an accomplished poet, mathematician and astrologer. Khona wrote poetry revealing her scientific knowledge about climate, harvest, and astrology. When she exceeded her father-in-law in the accuracy of her predictions, Khona’s husband and father-in-law had cut off her tongue to silence her prodigious talent. However, Khona’s poetry is still remembered and used in rural Bengal by farmers to understand the effect of climate on agriculture and harvest.
Khona is not only an example of how patriarchal culture has historically silenced women, but also a powerful example of how women’s voices have managed to be heard though the violent acts of silencing.
Khona Talkies represents the undying spirit of Khona, and the possibility of speaking without a tongue—speaking through silence. Khona Talkies, thus, attempts to work with themes that are otherwise silenced and marginalized.
Bangladesh’s Rubaiyat Hossain Sets Berlin Co-Production Market Project ‘Difficult Bride,’ Women Filmmaker Grant
The Difficult Bride" has been selected for Berlinale Co-Production Market 2022.
SAND CITY receives the Swiss Fund Visions Sud Est!
Hidden Gems of the 2010s "Leslie Harris: Made in Bangladesh"
Film on Bangladesh's garment workers spotlights women driving change
'Made in Bangladesh' and the African Diaspora International Film Festival
Au Bangladesh, la bataille pour la vie des ouvrières du textile
Made in Bangladesh nominated for APSA
Made in Bangladesh participates in BFI
Made in Bangladesh to participate in TIFF
Belonging wins Wouter Barendrecht Award & G2D Post Production Award
Bangladeshi Filmmaker Documents the Plight of the Rohingya People: "A Tragedy With a Very Human Face"
‘Sand City’ selected for Cannes La Fabrique Cinéma
Bangladeshi film selected for world’s biggest short film festival
Bangladesh’s ‘Sand City’ wins CNC grant in Locarno
Interiors & Exteriors wins Grand Prix
‘Interiors & Exteriors’ In CINEUROPA Top List
Interview with RUBAIYAT HOSSAIN: “I BELIEVE IN A FEMINIST INTERVENTION IN CINEMA”
‘Interiors & Exteriors’ wins Krátká Radost Award
Locarno: Open Doors’ Ishtiaque Zico Preps ‘Cats,’
Focus on Women Directors at Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum
Locarno Film Festival Open Doors Lab Announces Participants From South Asia
Bangladeshi war film Meherjaan rekindles old enmities
Kobi Swamir Mrityur Por Amar Jobanbondi’ awarded
Feature Film / Bangladesh-France-Denmark-Portugal
writer/director Rubaiyat Hossain
Producers: François D'artemare, Ashique Mostafa