When the film Dukhtar’s release was delayed this month, the cinema goers who were waiting to see it were very disappointed but the Dukhtar Facebook fan page reported that there was a very “cool” reason for the release being delayed.
Now we know what this cool reason is. Dukhtar’s world premiere will take place in Toronto on September 5th 2014.
The official Facebook page of the film reported,
“Dukhtar will have its World Premiere in Toronto on 5th Sept 2014 as an Official Selection of the Toronto International Film Festival in their Discovery section. It will be followed by its theatrical release in Pakistan on 18th Sept 2014.
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has become the launching pad for the best of international, Hollywood and Canadian cinema. The Discovery section of TIFF is dedicated to presenting the first or second feature films from filmmakers from around the world.
Writer, director and producer of ‘DUKHTAR’, Afia Nathaniel says: “It’s a great honour for a Pakistani film to be selected for Toronto. We hope audiences all over the world get to enjoy this beautiful film. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry. It will make you sit on the edge of the seat until the very last scene of the film. I am so looking forward to bringing ‘DUKHTAR’ home right after Toronto.”
Says Jane Schoettle, Programmer for TIFF, “TIFF is dedicated to presenting strong contemporary stories from around the world, and Afia Nathaniel’s DUHKTAR is precisely that: a beautifully photographed, compelling story that is universally accessible. We are pleased to present the film in our Discovery section, where we aim to draw attention to this year’s most exciting emerging directorial talents, a category into which Afia Nathaniel most certainly fits.”
As Pakistan’s first road-trip thriller ‘DUKHTAR’ is a departure from regular Pakistani films. While highlighting an important issue like child marriage, it also explores a frenzied search for a new life for a mother and daughter with an ex-mujahid truck driver played by award-winning actor Mohib Mirza. The film is set against backdrop of the surreal landscapes and roads of Hunza, Skardu, Gilgit and Kallar Kahar all the way to the urbanscape of Lahore. And chase scenes have been shot in Pakistan in below freezing conditions on one of the world’s highest altitude roads, the Karakorum Highway.
The producer of ‘DUKHTAR’, Muhammad Khalid Ali, commented on the international release, “This is an incredibly proud and humbling moment for us all. This is the first time a Pakistani film made by Pakistanis is going to be showcased in the world’s most popular film festival. The talent of our local cast and crew will now be seen on the big screen by the rest of the world.”
The feature film boasts a star studded cast that includes Samyia Mumtaz, Mohib Mirza, Saleha Aref, Asif Khan, Ajab Gul, Adnan Shah (Tipu), Abdullah Jan, Samina Ahmed and Omair Rana. The film features a rich OST, with acclaimed artists including Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shafqat Amanat Ali. Their songs “Ya Rahem Maula Maula” and “Jeenay Chaley” have already been released publicly and more tracks will follow soon.
‘DUKHTAR’ has already garnered significant international acclaim having won several prestigious and competitive awards like the Hubert Bals Fund, SORFUND, National Geographic’s All Road Seed grant, Adrienne Shelly and Women in Film-NETFLIX award. This makes it the first Pakistani feature film to have all these awards under its belt.
‘DUKHTAR’ is set to release in various other countries following the festival release in Toronto. The full release plan for Pakistan will be shared closer to its release date of 18th Sept 2014 in the local market.”
We wish Dukhtar and its team all the best!