Bangladeshi documentary Taken by The River on climate-driven river erosion and displacement has been selected for the 2026 Cambodia International Film Festival, highlighting the human cost of climate change.
An award-winning Bangladeshi documentary highlighting the human toll of climate change has been selected for the 15th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) 2026, its director announced.
Taken by The River, directed by investigative journalist Md Ibrahim Khalilullah, examines the devastating impact of river erosion and climate-induced displacement in Bangladesh, one of the countries most vulnerable to global warming.
The 5-minute documentary follows families living along some of Bangladesh’s most dynamic river systems, where entire villages are swallowed each year by shifting riverbanks intensified by heavier rainfall, upstream water changes and rising sea levels.
Through intimate storytelling, the film portrays how communities repeatedly lose homes, farmland and livelihoods, forcing many into cycles of migration and poverty.
“This recognition belongs to the communities whose stories we documented,” Khalilullah said. “For them, climate change is not a future threat. It is a present reality. Every monsoon season brings uncertainty.”
The documentary will be screened in CIFF’s “Beautiful Planet” program, which showcases films addressing environmental and climate issues.
The Cambodia International Film Festival, scheduled for March 24 to 29 in Phnom Penh, is one of Southeast Asia’s leading independent cinema platforms. Organizers say the 2026 edition will feature more than 150 films from over 40 countries, attracting filmmakers, critics and audiences from around the world.
Taken by The River previously won one of the world’s most prestigious awards, the 2025 Covering Climate Now Journalism Award, in the displacement and migration category and has been screened at various forums focused on environmental journalism and documentary storytelling.
The documentary was also officially selected at the European film festival “LIFE AFTER OIL International Film Festival 2025” and received the Best Documentary Award at the African Film Festival’s Varsity Film Expo 2024.
Bangladesh, a densely populated delta nation shaped by the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, faces intensifying climate risks including floods, cyclones and riverbank erosion.
According to government and research estimates, tens of thousands of people are displaced each year by river erosion alone, many of them becoming internal climate migrants.
The film blends investigative reporting with personal narratives, highlighting the resilience of affected families while raising questions about climate justice and global responsibility.
For Khalilullah, the selection offers a chance to amplify the voices of climate-affected communities beyond Bangladesh.
“River erosion is often seen as a local issue,” he said. “But it is deeply connected to global climate patterns. These stories deserve a global audience.”
