The cinema of Assamese is going places. Rima Das’ Busan winner Village Rockstars 2 had its European Premiere at the Berlinale International Film Festival, Feb 13-23, in the Generation 14 Plus category. Ahead of its European Premiere, Bangkok-based sales company Diversion had acquired the world sales rights.
Village Rockstars 2 is a sequel to her indie feature Village Rockstars, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017, won the Film Critics Circle of India award for the Best Indian Film of 2017, and then went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 2018. The film was also India’s official entry for the Oscars.
This is Rima’s second feature to be selected at Berlinale after Bulbul Can Sing won Special Mention at Berlinale 2019 in Generation 14 Plus. Rima Das also had the honour of being the Jury Member at Berlinale 2020 in the same category. The film had its World Premiere at the 29th Busan International Film Festival where it won the Kim Jiseok Award for Best Film.
Starring Bhanita Das, Basanti Das, Junumoni Boro, Boloram Das, and Manabendra Das, Village Rockstars is set in a charming village. It’s about a teenage girl who passionately pursues her musical dream. However, life’s harsh realities challenge her innocence. As she faces these trials, she embarks on a journey to rediscover the profound connection between music and life, seeking a new harmony in the symphony of her dreams.
“It feels like things are slowly coming full circle, opening the film to European audiences. I truly love the Berlin International Film Festival—the energy of the audience and the enthusiasm of the festival team make it such a soulful experience. It’s always an honor to be back,” says Rima Das, known for capturing indigenous and realistic stories that explore complicated relationships, finding purpose, coming of age and life amidst nature.
Village Rockstars on IMDb
