Sarmad Khoosat’s Lali earns major spot at London film festival
The Pakistani film will be screened at the prestigious festival on October 7. Its selection adds another important chapter to the journey of a movie that has already attracted attention at major international events.
The BFI London Film Festival is one of the United Kingdom’s leading film events. Its 70th edition will bring together 251 features, shorts, series and immersive works from 88 countries.
The festival programme was announced on Wednesday, revealing a wide range of international productions. The event will open with Elsinore, starring Andrew Scott, and close with The Debut, featuring Jesse Eisenberg.
Khoosat shared the news on Instagram after the festival programme was unveiled. He described the opportunity as a special moment for the film and its team.
“To be in this line-up, and to get to bring all the madness, music, colour, love and the many other crazy things of Lali to a global audience at the London Film Festival. Well, that feels rather lovely,” he wrote.
“And to be there on Day One of the festival too, somehow, that just makes it all feel a little more special,” he added.
Lali continues its international journey
The London selection comes after a major achievement for Lali earlier this year. The movie became the first fully Pakistani-produced feature film to premiere at the Berlinale in February.
Khoosat co-wrote the film with Sundus Hashmi, adding another significant international milestone to his career. The movie’s growing festival presence has also brought wider attention to Pakistani filmmakers and locally produced cinema.
At the centre of Lali is Zeba, played by Mamya Shajaffar. She becomes known as a “cursed bride” after three men she was previously engaged to die in mysterious circumstances.
The unusual situation forms the basis of a darker story about relationships, fear and social pressure. Rather than focusing only on mystery, the film explores the emotional and social forces affecting people within intimate relationships.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie looks at the “fear, shame, and violence that lie beneath intimate relationships.” The film also attempts to explore the complexity of human behaviour and suppressed emotions.
Strong cast adds to film’s appeal
Mamya Shajaffar leads the film, supported by a cast that includes Rasti Farooq and Meher Bano. Both actresses are known for their work in Pakistani television and cinema.
The film also features music by Abdullah Siddiqui. His score adds another creative element to a production that combines drama, mystery and social themes.
The international response to Lali has helped bring attention to the creative talent involved in the project. Its appearance at another major festival could further increase interest among international audiences.
For Pakistani cinema, such selections can also create opportunities for filmmakers to reach distributors, critics and viewers outside the country.
The BFI London Film Festival screening therefore represents more than another festival appearance. It gives the film a new opportunity to introduce its story and Pakistani creative work to a broader audience.
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Khoosat’s growing international profile
Khoosat has already established a strong connection with international film festivals. His 2019 directorial project Zindagi Tamasha was selected as Pakistan’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 93rd Academy Awards.
His other major project, Joyland, also achieved international recognition after winning the Jury Prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. The film was later selected as Pakistan’s entry for the international film category at the 95th Academy Awards.
These achievements have helped place Khoosat among the Pakistani filmmakers whose work regularly reaches major international platforms.
The latest selection of Lali continues that pattern. It also comes at a time when Pakistani films are gaining greater visibility at international festivals.
