Beyond The Mast (Mohammad Nuruzzaman) Bangladesh |

Beyond The Mast
Mohammad Nuruzzaman
Bangladesh. 2025. 93 min

Maqbool, an honest and kind-hearted elderly cook working on a fuel supply tanker, becomes the target of suspicion by the ship’s ambitious second-in-command, Helmsman, who dreams of becoming the Captain. When the ship halts at the port for repairs, Helmsman seizes the opportunity to engage in fuel smuggling in the absence of the captain. Meanwhile, Maqbool forms a caring bond with Noora, a street child living near the port. Upon hearing rumors of theft, the shipowner arrives unexpectedly. Impressed by Maqbool’s cooking and against Helmsman’s objections, he allows Noora to stay onboard as Maqbool’s assistant. But soon, in a cunning twist, Helmsman frames Noora for the fuel theft, leading to a harsh trial of Maqbool’s trust, compassion, and moral courage.

MOHAMMAD NURUZZAMAN

Bangladeshi writer-producer-director Mohammad Nuruzzaman is an Architecture graduate. He is known for his minimalist, audio-centric and open-ended storytelling. He is an advocate for the auteur concept and enjoys working with non-professional actors, writing screenplays, managing production, editing and designing soundtracks. His debut full-length feature film, SUMMER HOLIDAY, showcases his unique vision and creativity. He is in post-production with his second feature BEYOND THE MAST, simultaneously shooting DEEP INSIDE THE SOUL. He also co-produced the award-winning feature film, THE INSTINCT (2022), which received several international awards, including the NETPAC and Silver Saint George Award at the Moscow International Film Festival in 2022.

DIRECTOR´S NOTE

Beyond The Mast has been a uniquely personal journey for me. Through this film, I’ve tried to explore how people survive in monotonous and hostile environments, and how—despite harsh realities—human relationships can still blossom with light and air.

Taking on the challenge of filming aboard a working fuel tanker on the river was no easy feat, but in the end, the real location became the soul of the film. I wanted to blur the line between fiction and reality, offering the audience a glimpse into a rarely explored facet of life.

From the beginning, my intention was to avoid anything artificial or contrived. That’s why, alongside professional actors, I cast real crew members of the tanker in supporting roles. Their presence added a documentary-like authenticity to many of the scenes.

PRODUCER´S NOTE

Beyond The Mast is a sincere effort by the CineMaker team to make a film independently. Rather than constructing artificial sets, the film was shot in real locations—on a working oil tanker, in bustling fish markets, and among real people—blending professional actors with non-professionals. With a crew of just five to six members and a minimal camera setup, the film adopted a guerrilla filmmaking approach.

This near-invisible working style allowed the team to film without disrupting the natural flow of life in crowded areas, infusing the film with a documentary-like atmosphere. The decision to use handheld cameras further added to the film’s raw and lifelike aesthetic.

Shooting was done in strict alignment with the tanker’s operational schedule, ensuring no interference with its real-time activities. As a result, some scenes had to be reshot due to changing lighting conditions or were even omitted. At the same time, unexpected elements—impossible to imagine during the writing stage—found their way into the final film through spontaneous decisions.

FILMOGRAPHY