Bangladeshi filmmaker Rezwan Shahriar Sumit’s political drama “Master” has won the Best Screenplay award in the World Competition section of the 53rd Belgrade International Film Festival (FEST) in Serbia.

The screenplay, co-written by Sumit and Sabbir Hossain Shovon, was recognised by the festival jury for its narrative structure and exploration of political corruption, betrayal and personal transformation.

The award places MASTER among the festival’s leading films, alongside Spanish historical drama The Red Hangar (Hangar Rojo), directed by Juan Pablo Salato, which won Best Picture, and Filipino filmmaker Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana, which received the Best Director award.

Founded in 1971, Belgrade FEST is one of Europe’s long-standing international film festivals. Over more than five decades, it has brought together filmmakers and celebrated works from across the world.

The screenplay award marks another milestone in MASTER’s international festival journey. The film previously won the Big Screen Award at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and the Best Feature Award at the 22nd Lucca Film Festival in Italy.

Set against the realities of rural Bangladesh’s local governance, MASTER examines power, morality and human vulnerability through a political narrative that has drawn recognition at festivals in Europe.

The film features Nasir Uddin Khan as Jahir, known as Master, alongside Azmeri Haque Badhon, Zakia Bari Mamo, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Sharif Siraj, Tasnova Tamanna and Lutfar Rahman George.