'Lali' brings Berlinale moment to Pakistan
Sarmad Khoosat's upcoming film 'Lali' is set to receive its world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, marking another high-profile international outing for Pakistani cinema at one of the world's most influential and publicly attended film events.
The Berlinale, which runs from February 12 to 22 in the German capital, confirmed the selection as part of its upcoming edition, drawing attention to a slate that blends global auteurs, emerging voices and politically engaged storytelling.
The announcement of 'Lali's inclusion was made through the film's official Instagram account, where the makers expressed gratitude for the selection and confirmed the film's debut on one of Europe's most prominent cinematic stages.
"LALI - a Khoosat Films production in collaboration with @ensostudios.ae is going to Berlinale. A world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. Our hearts are full of gratitude, of stories, of all those who held this film with care," the post said.
'Lali' stars Mamya Shahjaffar in the lead role and features an ensemble cast that includes Rasti Farooq and Meher Bano, alongside several other actors whose performances form the backbone of the film's narrative structure.
Music plays a central role in the project, with original songs by Punjabi hip-hop artist Star Shah, widely recognised for '2AM' from Coke Studio Season 15, while the background score has been composed by Abdullah Siddiqui.
The film is produced as a collaboration between Khoosat Films and Dubai-based Enso Studios, signalling a cross-border production effort that reflects the increasingly transnational nature of South Asian independent filmmaking.
'Lali' also brings together a notable creative team behind the scenes, with 'Joyland' director Saim Sadiq and actor Tooba Siddiqui listed among the film's executive producers, adding further weight to the project's international profile.
The Berlin International Film Festival has meanwhile unveiled additional titles across its various sections, including its high-profile out-of-competition red carpet premieres that will screen as part of the 76th Berlinale next month.
Among the international premieres announced are Noah Segan's 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York', starring John Turturro and Steve Buscemi, and the European premiere of 'The Weight', featuring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe.
Also joining the Berlinale Specials programme is Gore Verbinski's sci-fi comedy 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die', starring Sam Rockwell, Juno Temple and Zazie Beetz, further underscoring the festival's genre-spanning ambitions.
The Panorama section, Berlin's main sidebar known for bold and socially engaged cinema, will feature Aidan Zamiri's 'The Moment', with music superstar Charli XCX in a project described as a mockumentary and meta-commentary on the music business.
Feminist perspectives will be strongly represented across the Panorama lineup, which includes Arru, the directorial debut of Sami choreographer Elle Sofe Sara, Iranian filmmaker Mahnaz Mohammadi's drama 'Roya', and Olive Nwosu's feature debut 'Lady'.
Continuing a long-standing Berlinale tradition, the festival will also host a new film by South Korean auteur Hong Sangsoo, who returns to Potsdamer Platz with 'Geunyeoga doraon nal', described as a subtle reflection on the acting profession.
Among the Berlinale Special highlights is the world premiere of 'The Blood Countess', a horror mystery thriller starring Isabelle Huppert as a 16th-century vampire and supported by an all-star European cast.
The cast includes Birgit Minichmayr, Lars Eidinger, Thomas Schubert and André Jung, bringing together prominent figures from European cinema for the highly anticipated production.
Directed by renowned German New Wave artist and filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger, the film revisits the story of Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Báthory, a real-life aristocrat accused of bathing in the blood of virgins to preserve her youth.
The character of Báthory has previously been portrayed by Julie Delpy in the 2009 feature 'The Countess', Anna Friel in the 2008 historical drama 'Bathory', and Maria Kalinina in the 2006 horror film 'Stay Alive'.
This new iteration promises a more high-brow approach, with a script by Ottinger and Elfriede Jelinek, the Nobel Prize-winning author of 'The Piano Teacher', which also starred Huppert.
Other Berlinale Special Galas include the world premiere of Teodora Ana Mihai's 'Heysel 85', which recounts the Heysel Stadium disaster where a crowd crush before a European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus resulted in 39 deaths.
Berlin audiences will also see the German premiere of Mona Fastvold's awards season contender 'The Testament of Ann Lee', starring Amanda Seyfried as the 18th-century religious leader and founder of the Shakers movement.
On the more visceral side of the programme, the festival will host the world premiere of 'Sleep No More', a body horror feature by Indonesian filmmaker Edwin, and 'Saccharine' by Australian director Natalie Erika James.
The Berlinale is set to announce its full lineup on January 20, completing the picture of its 76th edition. The selection of 'Lali' follows Khoosat's best director win at the DC South Asian Film Festival in 2023 for 'Kamli', reinforcing his continued presence on international festival circuits.
With its world premiere scheduled in Berlin, 'Lali' becomes the latest Pakistani film to debut at a major global festival, reflecting the sustained international visibility of Pakistani cinema.