Seattle, September 25, 2026: Sarmad Khoosat’s film Lali is heading to Seattle for the Tasveer Film Festival after premiering in Berlin, winning in Washington DC and screening in London.
The festival announced Lali as its opening-night film on Instagram on Thursday. The film will be screened on October 15 at 6pm local time at the Tasveer Film Centre, with a red-carpet event preceding the screening and a cast-and-crew session with the audience following the film.
The opening-night programme will also feature a gala dinner with live music and a DJ.
The Tasveer Film Festival, which showcases South Asian cinema, has announced a lineup of 136 titles, including 21 features. The festival is also recognised as a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards, with films winning eligible awards able to enter Oscar consideration under the Academy’s rules.
Lali follows Zeba, played by Mamya Shajaffar, a young woman who is branded a “cursed bride” after three of her previous suitors die under mysterious circumstances.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film examines “the fear, shame, and violence” underlying intimate relationships and explores the forces that can affect marriages and personal relationships.
The film features an ensemble cast including Joyland actor Rasti Farooq and Churails star Meher Bano, while its score has been composed by Abdullah Siddiqui.
Pakistan will have a wider presence at this year’s festival, with Habiba Nousheen’s documentary The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony also part of the programme.
Five Pakistani short films are also included: Farqalit Gharshin’s Tsrak, Kamran Faiq’s The Last Glance, Basir Ahmed’s Khazana, Ali Mehdi’s Shireen and Ravia Rasool’s Silence on Set.
Pakistani cinema has previously featured prominently at the Tasveer Film Festival. Wakhri opened the 2024 edition alongside an Indian title, while Ahmed Ali Akbar’s Laal Kabootar won the Archana Soy Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film in 2019.
