Bangladeshi filmmaker Rakayat Rabbi has won the Best Director award at the Son of a Pitch Award 2026 in Venice for his short film about a child who trades bullet casings for cotton candy.

Reported on Bongo Wiki, Rabbi received the award for “The Sweetness of Air: Hawai Mitha”, which is set against a wartime backdrop and explores a child’s psychological experience.

The award was announced on Thursday (10 September) at the Campari Lounge of the Hotel Excelsior in Venice.

The independent film competition is held alongside the Venice International Film Festival in Italy.

The jury praised the film for its restrained, human-centred storytelling.

Rabbi said receiving the prestigious award on the international stage while representing Bangladesh was the greatest feeling of his life. 

He added the recognition had inspired him to pursue his dreams further and also thanked his team for their tireless efforts in making the achievement possible.

The award marks Rabbi’s second recognition in Venice.

In 2024, he participated in the Ca’ Foscari Short Film Festival, where his work also received recognition.

The Son of a Pitch Award is an independent film competition held in parallel with the Venice Film Festival. It provides a platform for emerging and independent filmmakers from around the world.