BERLIN: Pakistani Punjabi film Lali has made history with its world premiere at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival.
Directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, the film received a warm welcome from members of the Pakistani community in Berlin. Pakistan’s ambassador to Germany was also among the attendees at the premiere screening.
Speaking at the event, Khoosat described the debut at the festival as a proud and validating moment. He said presenting a film so deeply rooted in Pakistan’s own culture at an international platform was a significant achievement.
Lali is a Punjabi-language black comedy set in the working-class neighborhoods of Sahiwal. The story follows Sajawal (played by Channan Hanif) and his newlywed wife Zeeba (played by Mahamia Shujaffer). Rumors swirl around Zeeba after the mysterious death of her former fiancé, with locals believing she lives under a dark shadow.
The film blends humor—often associated with Punjab’s cultural storytelling traditions—with darker undertones. One early scene depicts celebratory gunfire at Sajawal’s wedding, which accidentally injures a young girl, setting the tone for the film’s tragicomic narrative.
The premiere of Lali in Berlin also echoed the international recognition previously achieved by Joyland, directed by Saim Sadiq, which became the first Pakistani film to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022.
The screening marks another milestone for Pakistani cinema on the global stage, highlighting the growing presence of the country’s filmmakers at major international festivals.
