Following its long festival run in Europe and North America, Bangla Surf Girls made a big splash in London as the closing night film at the Human Rights Watch Fillm Festival with live screening at Barbican in March 2022.
Much like the protagonists in the documentary, “Bangla Surf Girls” has defied and overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic. This little indie doc has traveled to over 37 international film festivals from Vancouver to Germany, from Paris to Guangzhou garnering awards and prizes along the way. It continues to be popular at Ocean themed festivals winning awards in Coronado, California, Ubatuba, Brazil, and Kiel Germany. Bangla Surf Girls has been shown at Children’s Film festival, Paris, ZLIN Children’s film festival in Czech Republic, Cinema in Sneakers, Poland and at Hot Docs for Schools, moving young audiences who have engaged in Q and A sessions curious and engaged by the determination of the Bangla Surf Girls.
The success of Bangla Surf Girls is also the success of Bangladeshi Director, Elizabeth D Costa whose talented camerawork and ability to connect with the subjects have been recognized by audiences around the world. Critics are impressed with Elizabeth’s style and sensitive treatment of her subjects. There is no doubt that she forged a deep relationship with the girls which is how she managed to get such candid conversations.
Of course, that leads to the question: what’s happening to the girls? Are they still surfing?
The popularity of the film was leveraged by the Producers to create a crowd funding initiative in partnership with The International Ocean Film Tour and with Bangladeshi NGO Jaago Foundation. Three of the girls from the original Surf Club continue to teach and to surf and are role models for the next generation of girls.
Producer Lalita Krishna told Dhaka Tribune Showtime: “Ocean Film Tour have been screening a shorter version of Bangla Surf Girls all over Germany, France and some other European countries. We created a campaign together and have raised over $45,000 USD to support the girls and their dream. If we can get a few of these girls to break the cycle of poverty, we will make a difference for generations to come.”
Director Elizabeth D Costa said: “Big thanks to our audiences. And it’s a great feeling. We just want the best for the girls and that was the objective when I first started filming. So, this response is really great.”
Bangla Surf Girls has also been screened widely on TV networks in Sweden, Greater China, Germany, France, Switzerland, Australia, Denmark, Estonia, STEPS Africa. It is available on Google Play, Amazon and Itunes.
