Banned Pakistani film wins big at Asian World Film Festival

The festival, which brings the best of a broad selection of Asian World cinema to Los Angeles that was held virtually on March 15, witnessed the inclusion of 40 films from over 20 participating countries, all of which were showcased during the six-day extravaganza. It included 11 Oscar submissions for Best International Feature Film and 12 Golden Globe submissions for Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language.

Zindagi Tamasha (Circus of Life), the Oscar submission from Pakistan, took the Snow Leopard Award for Best Film. Director Sarmad Sultan Khoosat received the award from jury member Luba Balagova Kandoor, an award-winning Russian Circassian poet, author, filmmaker, and producer, according to The Express Tribune.

The Snow Leopard Award for Best Actor went to Arif Hassan for his performance in the film. The award was presented by Jury member Joanne Goh.

The controversial film, which was banned in Pakistan, is about a man who is shunned after a video of him dancing at a wedding goes viral.

While receiving the award, the actor said: “I am overwhelmed by the recognition this film of ours has received internationally.

"I am extremely grateful to our director Sarmad Khoosat whose dedication to the film was unparalleled. It's about time we start telling stories that are unique to the Asian culture. There are so many stories that remain untold by the mainstream media."

“'Zindagi Tamasha' will represent all of us, our ‘Pakistan’ at the Oscars,” added Khoosat, who faced much backlash back home from extremist religious groups.

"Winning two awards at the festival has given me and my team the right kind of morale boost and the emotional boost as well," said the filmmaker.

"It has been a tumultuous journey with this film. Not being able to show it here in my own home country, it got banned. But finding this new audience for the film has made me believe more and more in the power of cinema," he added.

The film was banned in Pakistan after an extremist religious group watched the trailer and became enraged at its portrayal of the cleric in the movie. Bowing to pressure, the Pakistani government had issued directives to postpone the film's release.