Sarmad Khoosat’s Film Lali Earns Spot at 70th BFI London Film Festival

Pakistani director Sarmad Khoosat’s Lali has earned another international recognition his film was selected for the 70th BFI London Film Festival.

The two-week festival in October will setting 251 films shorts, series and interactive works from 88 countries over two weeks. Elsinore, presenting Andrew Scott, will open the film festival, and complete with The Debut, starring Jesse Eisenberg.

The director himself shared the sensational news on Instagram after the event publicized its full programme. The filmmaker sharing his excitement said he was happy to bring the music, colors, love and vibrant energy of Lali with audiences worldwide.

Expressing his happiness, the filmmaker said he was thrilled to bring the music, colors, love and energy of Lali to an international audience. He said the film’s screening on the first day of the festival made the success even more striking.

Lali is scheduled to screen on October 7.

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The film marks another important milestone for Khoosat. Co-written by Khoosat and Sundus Hashmi, Lali made history in February by becoming the first fully Pakistani-produced feature film to premiere at the Berlinale.

The story follows Zeba, played by Mamya Shajaffar, a young woman who is branded a “cursed bride” after three of her former suitors die under mysterious circumstances. The film explores fear, shame and violence within intimate relationships.

Alongside Shajaffar, the cast includes Rasti Farooq of Joyland and Meher Bano, known for Churails. The film’s music has been composed by Abdullah Siddiqui.

Khoosat has previously taken Pakistani cinema to major international platforms. One more main accomplishment of filmmaker’s 2019 film Zindagi Tamasha was chosen as Pakistan’s record for the Best International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards. His further key project, Joyland, acquired the Jury Prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and was selected as Pakistan’s entry for the 95th Academy Awards.