Malala claims that she has always wished to encourage Pakistani artists and content. Yousafzai joined Joyland, Pakistan’s entry for the Oscars, as its executive producer.
Joyland was chosen as Pakistan’s entry for the 95th Academy Awards in the category of “International Feature Film Award” by the Oscars Selection Committee.
Joyland stars Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gillani, Salman Peerzada, Sohail Sameer, and Sania Saeed and was written and directed by Saim Sadiq. It was also produced by Apoorva Guru Charan, Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, and Lauren Mann.
The movie, which will premiere in Pakistan on November 18, has been a hit ever since it won numerous awards throughout the globe. The results of Sadiq’s labor will be screened at nearby theatres the following week. When Malala Yousafzai, the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize from Pakistan, joined the project as executive producer, the movie garnered even more media attention.
In a recent interview with Variety, Yousafzai stated, “My goal was to bring attention to the tales that are often thrown aside, to offer an opportunity to more voices from all corners of the world, and focusing especially on women, people of colour, and young artists.” “Being able to start with Joyland is such a thrill since it is a Pakistani movie made by Pakistani directors, writers, and actors, and I am a Pakistani executive producer. To start with, this was such a fantastic opportunity for me. I’ve always fantasized about living in a world where I could support more Pakistani artists and material.
“The concepts that are dealt with in this film resonate with people all throughout the world,” the activist continued. We hear about family dynamics, the dynamic between parents and kids, husbands and wives, and the conflict between what’s expected of you at home and what kind of role you want to play in society. And everywhere we turn in the world, we hear about these things.
Yousafzai elaborated on the subject by saying, “There are disappointments from parents, as well as disappointments in relationships. And these are the ideas that this film so masterfully explores. We also learn about identity and people’s attempts to comprehend who they are and then find a place for it both inside and outside of their homes, earning the respect and dignity they deserve.
In an interview with the magazine, Sadiq offered his personal opinion on his impending release. “There is something to be said about the way we’ve been discussing issues related to identity, sexuality, gender, and the politics around trans issues, which we’ve only seen thus far with the Western frame of reference in films and television. Even while the concerns are mostly the same, the emotional and political responses to them are very different, therefore that may not be the same as what is considered a South Asian frame of reference, Sadiq told the source.
“This movie does turn the discourse surrounding that on its head because it’s simply energizing to watch a very confident trans character who also happens to be brown, Muslim, and in a nation like Pakistan, “He revealed.
Sadiq also has an alternative viewpoint on the traditional family that is the foundation of Joyland. “Very often in movies, we do enforce liberal values and tend to paint the conservatives with a brush that perhaps we shouldn’t, because we from the media, or from the artistic community where most people often are liberal, we expect a certain amount of empathy from the conservatives for us, but it starts with us affording that empathy to the conservative folks as well, and looking at them with an empathetic light, and seeing how they perhaps are also strug-
Yousafzai is adamant that she supports the movie in the meanwhile. “This movie deserves an Oscar, and I’m really glad that Pakistan submitted it. It deserves every accolade available.” Yousafzai adds, “And I hope that more and more people come forward to nominate the movie. “I will do everything within my power, whether it be in person or through any other means, to let everyone know that this is an amazing movie and to encourage them to watch, nominate, and support it.”
The 25-year-old previously told the outlet that she is “very proud to promote a film that confirms Pakistani artists are among the best in global cinema” when speaking about Joyland. In a statement, she stated: “Joyland challenges us to look at those who are closest to us objectively, without the influence of our own expectations or societal prejudice.
Oscars for Malala
In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, Sadiq discussed the Academy Awards, stating that the nomination process is lengthy and that things will improve if they are shortlisted in December. However, for the time being, the Pakistan release is his “primary” focus, with everything else serving as a bonus.
“Of course, there is anticipation and optimism surrounding the Oscars, but ultimately, the intention is for the movie to be seen, and the Oscars will help with that. They onboarded Malala because, in essence, he stated, “I want all kinds of people to see it instead of it being a niche for those who already agree with my stance.”
Her participation is extremely crucial to the campaign. She is there to promote the movie, arrange for screenings, and provide festival introductions. She also carried out that action in London. An important aspect of the Oscars is campaigning. It’s not just about the film’s quality, unlike what one may think, Sadiq, screamed. People must watch the movie as part of a lengthy procedure before they can cast a vote for it. Everyone kind of brings a celebrity on board to promote it in order to get people to watch it, so I think she will help a lot in that manner!
