Nayab' secures spot in Florida's South Asian Int Film Fest

Pakistan film to screen with 'Paramita', 'Legends'

Umair Nasir Ali's Nayab has been listed amongst the selection for the South Asian International Film Festival of Florida, as per the list of entries shared on the festival's official website. The Pakistani film is part of a collection of twenty-six films, including Shivani Mehra's Me, Raani, Debra Gussin's This Is Our Time, and Ram Kamal Mukherjee's Binodiini.

Released in January last year, Nayab stars Yumna Zaidi, Javed Sheikh, and Usama Khan. The sports drama follows the coming-of-age story of Yumna's eponymous character.

"In the bustling heart of Karachi, a determined girl harbours a dream to shatter stereotypes and play cricket for Pakistan, while her brother, once a rising star himself, grapples with his past. As they navigate the gritty world of the local cricket scene, their unwavering bond and the city's chaotic past become their greatest allies in this deeply Pakistani tale of ambition, resilience, and family," reads the synopsis.

At the one-year anniversary of the release of the film, Umair took to Instagram to reflect on the achievement. "One year ago, Nayab marked a monumental chapter in my journey as a filmmaker. My first feature film, a story that felt right, that resonated deeply," began the director.

He added that the project allowed him to hone his craft as a narrative director, helped him focus on helming the storyline, enabled him to work passionately with actors, and all-in-all provided him an emotional experience.

"I carried detailed notes for every actor, amplifying their strengths and guiding them to refine areas that needed nuance. Each day on set began with music played not just to set the tone but to block out everything else and focus entirely on execution," he recalled.

"I was fortunate to have incredible collaborators, too many to name, but each person took this project as their own, pouring their heart and soul into it," he wrote. "Nayab wasn't just a project; it became a part of me. Over the past year, this film has travelled to places I could only dream of, shining brightly across festivals worldwide."

Umair concluded his note with a 'thank you' to Vertical Cinema for putting together a video to celebrate Nayab's one-year anniversary. "It's moments like this that remind me why we do what we do," he wrote.