‘Joyland’ as 1st Pakistani film to shortlist for Oscar’s International Feature Film category
The film ‘Joyland’ has become the first Pakistani film to shortlist for Oscar’s International Feature Film category.
Joyland, a film by Saim Sadiq, has been selected for the 95th Academy Awards, according to Deadline. The movie is now the first from Pakistan to be chosen for an Oscar in the international feature film category. In September, it was revealed that Pakistan would be sending Joyland, starring Alina Khan, Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Sarwat Gilani, Salman Peerzada, and Sania Saeed, to the 95th iteration of the most prestigious film awards.
On Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled its shortlists for the 10 Oscar categories that will be presented in 2023. These categories include documentary and international features, as well as a documentary short subject, makeup and hairstyling, original score, original song, animated short, live-action short, sound, and visual effects.
India’s international submission, Last Film Show, also made the cut, while another Indian film, RRR, made the shortlist for its popular track Naatu Naatu.
Film’s executive producer Malala Yousafzai, while congratulating Sadiq, expressed her delight over Joyland being shortlisted.
“I am so, so happy for you and your whole team,” Yousafzai told Sadiq while speaking to him on call. “Everyone who was on the screen, behind the screen. You guys have done such a tremendous job! It’s a huge honour for me to be a part of this project. It is such an amazing moment for all the artists and for Pakistan!” She added, “The team must know everyone’s so proud of them.”
To this, Sadiq responded, “Thank you for your work, for playing such an important role. It makes me really proud as well. We make a good team.”
Previously, speaking about the selection of his recent offering, the writer and director had said, “I am humbled, thankful, and excited about this immense honor to represent Pakistan at the Oscars with a film that I truly believe is an honest and compassionate representation of who we are as people. I hope that the joys and sorrows of these characters foster empathy amongst the viewers in Pakistan and abroad. In the coming months, we will need many duas and good wishes from our people for the road ahead.”
The director went on to add, “We always complain about how – despite the presence of many great artists in all fields – Pakistani art has remained grossly underrepresented in the world. This year, however, has been different already. So, I’ll take this moment to feel hopeful. With my gratitude to the selection committee, I wish the best of luck to Joyland and to Pakistan!”
‘Joyland’ as 1st Pakistani film to shortlist for Oscar’s International Feature Film category
Producers Apoorva Guru Charan and Sarmad Sultan Khoosat have said, “The journey of making Joyland has brought together the most wonderful team from around the world, united in a truly South-Asian, universally human story from Pakistan. We are so grateful to the committee – with this entry, we get to share Joyland with a larger audience. With love from Pakistan, to the world.”
The 95th Academy Awards presentation show is planned to take place on March 12, 2023, and the complete and final list of Oscar nominations will be revealed on January 24, 2023.
The International feature films are categorized as:
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
Argentina, Argentina, 1985
Austria, Corsage
Belgium, Close
Cambodia, Return to Seoul
Denmark, Holy Spider
France, Saint Omer
Germany, All Quiet on the Western Front
India, Last Film Show
Ireland, The Quiet Girl
Mexico, Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
Morocco, The Blue Caftan
Pakistan, Joyland
Poland, EO
South Korea, Decision to Leave
Sweden, Cairo Conspiracy
PHC directs federal government, regulatory bodies to ban “Joyland” Movie
