VENICE FILM FESTIVAL SELECTS THE DIFFICULT BRIDE

Summary:

• Rubaiyat Hossain's feature film The Difficult Bride enters the Orizzonti section at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
• The project received support from the first edition of the Fondazione Prada Film Fund.
• World premiere screening takes place September 6 2026 at Lido di Venezia.

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival selected Bangladeshi director Rubaiyat Hossain's feature film The Difficult Bride for competition in the Orizzonti section. The film screens for the first time on September 6 2026 at Sala Darsena on Lido di Venezia. This production stands among 14 selected projects from an initial pool of over 1,200 international applications submitted to the Fondazione Prada Film Fund.

Set in contemporary Dhaka, the story follows Zaineen, a bride preparing for marriage. Physical control slips away as social demands, beauty rituals, and supernatural forces interfere with her wedding plans. Hossain previously directed Meherjaan in 2011, Under Construction in 2015, and Made in Bangladesh in 2019. Her background includes degrees from Smith College, the University of Pennsylvania, and NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Five countries combined resources for the production. Production houses include Les Films de l'Après-Midi in France, Midas Filmes in Portugal, Khona Talkies in Bangladesh, and Barentsfilm in Norway, alongside Tandem Productions in Germany. Films Boutique manages international sales for the project.

Fondazione Prada operates a total fund of €1.5 million. The initiative provides strategic financing up to €250,000 for individual narrative projects across development, production, and post-production phases. Fondazione Prada President Miuccia Prada and Film Fund Head Paolo Moretti established the committee to select independent works displaying artistic rigor.

The organization launched the second submission period in June 2026. Deadlines for development and post-production applications close on September 10 2026. The committee plans to announce the next group of supported titles in February 2027.

Paolo Moretti developed the funding model alongside project manager Rebecca De Pas. Moretti previously directed the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival between 2018 and 2022. External industry consultants evaluate submissions before the final committee renders funding decisions.

Credits:

The Difficult Bride
Rubaiyat Hossain, 2026
Produced by François D’Artemare / Les Films de l’Après–Midi (FR), Midas Filmes (PT), Khona
Talkies (BD), and Barentsfilm (NO), with Tandem Films (DE)
Distributed by Films Boutique