Sarmad Khoosat's 'Lali' wins Best Director at DC South Asian Film Festival

Best Short Film, and Kritika Kamra Best Actress for. The Great Shamsuddin Family. View this post on Instagram.

Khoosat shared the news on his Instagram story, expressing gratitude to the people who had “been bringing our stories to America for the last 15 years with so much warmth and dedication,” while congratulating his. Laliteam.

The award marked his second DCSAFF Best Director win. The festival had previously honoured him in the same category for. Kamliin 2023.

Screengrab: Instagram/sarmadkhoosat. Co-written by Khoosat and Sundus Hashmi, Lalihas had a busy year on the international festival circuit, beginning with its premiere at the76th Berlin International Film Festivalin February. The film made history there as the first fully Pakistani-produced feature to screen at the Berlinale.

In April, Lalireceived an honourable mention from the feature jury at the. Indian Film Festivalof Los Angeles for its genre fluidity and visual richness. Earlier this month, the film was also selected to screen on the opening day of the70th BFI London Film Festival, which runs from October 7 to 18, as part of the festival’s “Laugh” strand.

At the centre of. Laliis Zeba (Mamya Shajaffar), a young woman branded a “cursed bride” after three of her previous suitors died in mysterious circumstances. She is subsequently arranged to marry Sajawal (Channan Hanif).

The ensemble cast also includes. Joyland’s Rasti Farooq and. Churailsstar Meher Bano, while.

Joylanddirector Saim Sadiq serves as the film’s editor. View this post on Instagram. Laliis next scheduled to open the Mississauga International South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF), where it has been named the opening-night red carpet gala film, festival’s Instagram account.