After Malala, Oscar winner Riz Ahmed boards 'Joyland' as executive producer

Ahmed's production house, Left Handed films, takes Saim Sadiq's film under its wing as 95th Academy Awards inch closer

After Malala Yousafzai, British-Pakistani Oscar-winner Riz Ahmed, has boarded Saim Sadiq's directorial as an executive producer. Ahmed's production house, Left Handed films, has taken Joyland under its wing as Oscars 2023 inches closer.

The union could prove fruitful as Ahmed's several productions have managed to bag nominations. However, last year Ahmed won his first Oscar for the critically acclaimed live-action short film The Long Goodbye, which he co-wrote with Aneil Karia.  

Taking to Instagram, Ahmed shared he was ecstatic over the collaboration. "We are so proud at Left Handed Films to be a part of Joyland. Our motto is “go left” and Saim Sadiq’s unique film does just that," the Emmy-winning artist penned. 

 

 

 

 

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“Joyland is ground-breaking. And it’s easy to get lost in all the ways that it is; the first Pakistani film at Cannes, the first award-winner, the first to be Oscar-shortlisted, and a queer love story that has overcome multiple obstacles to its release,” said Ahmed and Left Handed Films executive Allie Moore in a statement to Variety while announcing the partnership. “But more important than any of the glass ceilings it smashes is how this film so masterfully breaks our hearts.”

Their statement further read, “Saim Sadiq’s filmmaking is both understated and gut-wrenching. His writing is consistently unexpected — both unflinchingly joyous and devastating. Every scene is so elegantly composed yet bursting with vividly raw characters and performances. Joyland is one of the best films of the year, and against all odds of resources and marketing budgets, it’s been amazing to see festival juries, audiences, and critics shouting that from the rooftops.”

Sadiq, on the other hand, was grateful. “I am excited that Riz and Left Handed Films will be joining Joyland as Executive Producers." The filmmaker further shared, “Riz and his production company have a track record of exquisite taste and having them on board further affirms our belief in both the urgency and universality of Joyland.”

A tale of the sexual revolution, Joyland tells the story of the youngest son in a patriarchal family who is expected to produce a baby boy with his wife. He, instead, joins an erotic dance theatre and falls for the troupe's director, a trans woman.

Previously, Malala told the publication she's "incredibly proud to support a film that proves Pakistani artists are among the best in global cinema." She said in a statement, "Joyland invites us to open our eyes to the people closest to us — to see our family members and friends as they are, not colored by our own expectations or societal bias.”

Last month, Sadiq's Joyland was shortlisted for the 95th Academy Awards. The film becomes Pakistan's first selection in Oscar's International Feature Film category. Joyland, starring Alina Khan, Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Sarwat Gilani, Salman Peerzada, and Sania Saeed, was announced as Pakistan's official submission in the 95th run of the biggest film awards in September.

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."

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