The Lali Berlin Film Festival premiere has marked a historic moment for Pakistani cinema, as the Berlinale screened its first fully Pakistani-produced feature film.
Directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, Lali held its world premiere in Berlin to a packed audience. Members of the Pakistani community in Germany, including the country’s ambassador, attended the screening.
The Punjabi-language black comedy follows Sajawal, played by Channan Hanif, and his bride Zeba, portrayed by Mamya Shajaffar. Set in the working-class city of Sahiwal, the story blends dark humour with local folklore. Neighbours whisper that Zeba carries a curse after her former suitors died in mysterious circumstances.
Khoosat described the premiere as both an achievement and a responsibility. He said the recognition validated a story deeply rooted in its own cultural idiom.
Lali Berlin Film Festival Premiere Highlights Industry Challenges
While celebrating the milestone, Khoosat also addressed the challenges faced by Pakistani cinema. He described the industry’s decline over the past two decades as a “semi-gradual kind of demise.”
He noted that Pakistan once produced more than 100 films a year. However, the industry later struggled to compete with other media and failed to attract newer audiences.
The film balances boisterous Punjabi humour with serious themes such as desire, sexuality, trauma, and subtle supernatural elements. Khoosat clarified that nothing shown on screen is physically impossible, even when events appear magical.
He expressed hope that international visibility could help revive the domestic industry. According to Khoosat, a new generation of filmmakers is emerging and needs stronger support to produce more work.
The Berlin screening signals growing global interest in stories from Pakistan. Whether that momentum translates into long-term industry revival remains to be seen.
