Renowned filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat has secured another historic international milestone for Pakistani cinema as his dark comedy feature Lali has been officially selected for the 70th BFI London Film Festival. Scheduled to screen on the festival’s opening day on October 7, 2026, the critically acclaimed project will showcase local storytelling, music, and performance on the United Kingdom’s largest cinematic stage. This major international platform follows Lali’s groundbreaking world premiere at the Berlinale earlier this year, solidifying Khoosat’s position as a driving force in the global indie film circuit
Lali at BFI London Film Festival 2026
- Director & Co-Writer: Sarmad Sultan Khoosat (Co-written with Sundus Hashmi).
- Lead Cast: Mamya Shajaffar (Zeba), Channan Hanif (Sajawal), Rasti Farooq, Meher Bano, and Farazeh Syed.
- Production Partners: Khoosat Films and Dubai-based Enso Studios, with editing by Joyland director Saim Sadiq.
- Festival Strand & Date: BFI London Film Festival “Laugh” Strand; Screening on October 7, 2026, at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA).
- Previous Accolades: First all-Pakistani production to premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival (February 2026); Honourable Mention at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA
Sarmad Khoosat Takes Pakistani Cinema to the BFI Stage
The official line-up for the 70th BFI London Film Festival features 251 projects—including feature films, shorts, and immersive works—representing 88 countries. Amid thousands of global submissions, Lali earned a slot in the prestigious “Laugh” strand, positioning Pakistani dark humor before international critics and audiences.
Taking to Instagram following the programme reveal, Sarmad Khoosat expressed his enthusiasm for bringing the movie’s distinct cultural energy to London. The screening on October 7, 2026, at the Institute of Contemporary Arts places Lali at the center of opening-day festivities, marking a high-water mark for modern Pakistani films in Europe
Plot, Cast, and Creative Team Behind Lali
Co-written by Khoosat and Sundus Hashmi, Lali is a Punjabi-language dark comedy drama imbued with supernatural undertones and sharp social commentary. The narrative follows Zeba (played by Mamya Shajaffar), a spirited young woman branded a “cursed bride” after three consecutive suitors die in unusual, violent circumstances prior to their nuptials.
Zeba is eventually arranged to marry Sajawal (Channan Hanif), a metal fabricator carrying a facial birthmark and deep childhood insecurities. The film examines fear, isolation, and domestic dynamics beneath traditional marital expectations.
Key Cast & Crew Highlights
- Ensemble Cast: Alongside Shajaffar and Hanif, the film stars Joyland breakout actor Rasti Farooq, Churails star Meher Bano, and Farazeh Syed.
- Musical Score: Original score composed by electronic artist Abdullah Siddiqui, with original tracks featuring Punjabi hip-hop artist Star Shah.
- Cinematography & Editing: Visually captured by Khizer Idrees and edited by Cannes-award winner Saim Sadiq.
The Global Festival Circuit and Pakistani Cinema’s Rising Profile
Lali’s inclusion in the BFI London Film Festival is the latest chapter in an impressive international run. On February 20, 2026, the film made cinematic history as the first fully Pakistani-produced feature film selected for the Panorama section at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival.
From Berlin, Lali traveled to the Istanbul Film Festival, BAFICI in Buenos Aires, and the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA), where the feature jury awarded it an Honourable Mention for its narrative daring and vivid visual design.
This trajectory builds on a decade of momentum for local indie cinema. Khoosat’s 2019 film Zindagi Tamasha served as Pakistan’s official submission for the 93rd Academy Awards. In 2022, Joyland—directed by Saim Sadiq and produced by Khoosat—won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and made the Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature. The continuous global footprint proves that authentic, Pakistani-rooted stories resonate deeply across continents.
Why Lali Resonates with Global and Local Audiences
Unlike conventional romantic dramas, Lali uses dark humor, Punjabi folklore, and genre fluidity to address systemic pressures within South Asian domestic relationships. Film critics have highlighted its rich color palette, subversion of patriarchal tropes, and complex depiction of female solidarity—particularly the relationship between the central bride and her mother-in-law.
By pairing local cultural specificities with universal themes of grief, desire, and social stigma, Lali offers global audiences an uncensored look at modern Pakistani storytelling.
The selection of Lali for the 70th BFI London Film Festival reinforces Sarmad Khoosat’s reputation as one of South Asia’s most fearless cinematic voices
