Rima Das's Bulbul Can Sing to compete at Berlin International Film Festival 2019

After making its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this September and winning the Golden Gateway Award at the 20th Mumbai Film Festival, Rima Das's Bulbul Can Sing heads to Berlin next year where it will compete in the Generation 14 Plus category. 

Das's previous film, the critically acclaimed, Village Rockstars (2018), was India's official entry to the foreign film category at the Academy Awards. It did not make the shortlist for the nomination. 

Bulbul Can Sing, a coming-of-age tale between three close friends in Assam, trying to find their way in the world, will complete against Korean film Beol-sae, Canadian film The Body Remembers When The World Broke Open, American films Goldie, and Knives And Skin, Chinese film Guo Chun Tian, Finnish film Hölmö Nuori Sydän (Stupid Young Heart) and Japanese film We Are Zombies.  
 
In a statement, the National Award-winning filmmaker shared her elation at the selection. "Bulbul Can Sing is selected for Berlinale! I can’t explain in words how happy I am. After the film premiered at Toronto, I didn’t think we would get an invitation from Berlin because top festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, and Venice usually ask for a world premiere. They accept other films only in case of an exception! So it's a huge achievement," she said. 

“After getting immense love and appreciation from people for Village Rockstars, it was very challenging for me to come out with a new film which would meet people’s expectation. But seeing the extraordinary journey of Bulbul, I feel more hopeful now. I want to thank my family, friends and film team and everyone who believes in my movies and me. Yes, we will keep our faith alive to keep dreaming,” she continued.

The Berlin International Film Festival will be held from 7 to 17 February 2019. Zoya Akhtar's Gully Boy (2019), starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, will have a world premiere in the Special Gala section of the film festival.