Sultana's Dream () is a 2023 animated drama film directed by Isabel Herguera from a screenplay she co-wrote with Gianmarco Serra, based in part on the 1905 short story of the same name by Rokeya Hossain.
Premise Inés, a Spanish artist living in Bangladesh, travels throughout the country learning about the life of author Rokeya Hossain and the utopian Ladyland she described in her 1905 short story Sultana's Dream.
Cast Mary Beard Miren Arrieta Mireia Gabilondo Maurizio Faraoni Manu Khurana Arunima Bhattacharya Ranjitha Rajeevan Paul B. Preciado
Production In 2012, Herguera launched a crowdfunded workshop series in India focused on Sultana's Dream by Rokeya Hossain. The director later received a screenwriting grant from the Basque government to develop a film based on Hossain's work.
Each of the film's three parts was created using a different animation technique. Portions of the narrative centered on Inés are animated with ink and watercolor, shadow puppets tell the story of Rokeya Hossain, and the fictional Ladyland is animated using mendhi.
Release Sultana's Dream screened as a work-in-progress at the 2023 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The completed film premiered on 24 September 2023 at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, where it was awarded the Basque Film Award and the award for the Best Basque Screenplay. The film was released nationwide in Spain on 17 November.
For home video, Cartuna released the film on Blu-ray in 2025, including a number of Herguera's short films as bonus features. The film released on 16 January 2026 in theaters of Bangladesh.
Reception Box office Sultana's Dream grossed $7,867 during the film's theatrical release in Spain.
Accolades Name of the Award Ceremony date Category Recipient(s) ResultAWARDSSan Sebastián International Film Festival30 September 2023 Basque Film Award Sultana's Dream Best Basque Screenplay Isabel Herguera, Gianmarco Serra Filmfest Hamburg 7 October 2023 Hamburg Producers Award for European Cinema Co-Productions Fabian Driehorst Quirino AwardsMay 2024 Best Visual Development Isabel Herguera, Rocío Álvarez, Elena Jariego Antón, Duna Tàrrega Annecy International Animation Film Festival 15 June 2024 Contrechamp Grand Prix Sultana's Dream Animafest Zagreb8 June 2024 Grand Competition Feature FilmSultana's DreamFestival international du film d'animation de BruxellesFeb-Mar 2024Award For Best Animated FeatureSultana's DreamSeoul Indie-AniFestOct 2024Mirinae Grand PrixLeeds International Film Festival (LIFF)Nov 2024Special MentionCeltic Media FestivalAbr 2024Best AnimationCartoons on the BayAbr 2024Best Screenplay & Special prizeIsabel Herguera, Gianmarco SerraWorld Festival of animated film VarnaOct 2024Best Feature FilmSultana's DreamAnimest International Animation Film FestivalOct 2024Special MentionAnimadeba, Festival internacional de animaciónSep 2024EITB AwardInternational Animation Film and Comics Art Festival of YerevanOct 2024Jury Special MentionWench Film FestivalNov 2024Special MentionNominationsSan Sebastián International Film Festival30 September 2023Golden Shell Sultana's DreamEuropean Film Awards7 December 2024European Animated Feature FilmForqué Awards16 December 2023Best Animated FilmFeroz Awards26 January 2024'Arrebato' Special Award (Fiction)Goya Awards10 February 2024Best Animated FilmPlatino Awards20 April 2024Best Animated FilmQuirino Awards11 May 2024European Director of the year Isabel HergueraDeutscher Menschenrechtspreis 11 November 2024Human Rights AwardSultana's Dream
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