Three Bangladeshi films have been included in Asian Movie Pulse’s prestigious list of the “20 Best West Asian Films of 2025,” highlighting the country’s growing impact on international arthouse cinema.

Mehedi Hasan’s “Sand City” ranked fifth on the list, while Soumitra Dastidar’s “July 36: Rashtro Bonam Nagorik” placed 17th and Nuhash Humayun’s anthology “Dui Shaw” came in at 19th.

Asian Movie Pulse has published its annual best-of list since 2019, selecting films based on artistic storytelling, innovation, and engagement with political and cultural realities. Its latest report notes that Asian cinema is gaining strength, with bold films exploring history, memory and state violence from fresh perspectives.

Topping this year’s list is Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident”, followed by Iraq’s “Irkala: Dreams of Gilgamesh”. Other top entries include Iran’s “Cutting Through Rocks” and Saudi Arabia’s “Hijra”.
Describing “Sand City”, Asian Movie Pulse called it “a rare arthouse gem” with a calm pace and deep atmosphere. “July 36” was praised as “an important document of resistance,” while “Dui Shaw” was noted for its compelling stories despite minor weaknesses.