The dream of Pakistani stars has come true with the first Cannes screening of Joyland.| Pakistani Showbiz

 Joyland, the first Pakistani film to be screened in Cannes, is on the cusp of success. While the selection alone was enough for a feat, the film managed to work its magic and stood at the premiere and received accolades.

The first screening of Pakistan's first entry at the Cannes Film Festival felt like "a dream has come true", one of its stars, Sarwat Gilani, said after the film, which seeks to break gender stereotypes in his country. Received a standing ovation.

Gilani told Reuters on Thursday that it felt like the hard work that people put in, the struggles that we as artists in Pakistan face, are all worth it.

Gilani, a film and TV star best known for his latest series Churails, plays Nochi in "Joyland", which competes in the "Un Certain Regard" section, a competition focused on more art house films. Which runs parallel to the main "Palme" d’Or” prize

Nochi belongs to a family that longs for the birth of a son to continue the family line, the birth of three daughters in a row is not enough to please her conservative father-in-law.

And his brother-in-law Haider secretly falls in love with Biba, a transgender woman who fights for her right to act as an actor.

Joyland also examines the frustrations of women seeking a career when Haider's wife becomes depressed after being forced to live in a prominent house and do housework and work as a make-up artist. ۔

A 'daring' movie

Now this is not just a love story. It's about real-time issues, real-life issues that we're all going through, "Gilani added.

Being a woman, being a trans, representing this sector of society, I think it's a great step in the direction where we can say we can write progressive stories. "

Gilani said he hoped Pakistani filmgoers and critics would welcome "Joyland" just as warmly in Cannes.I am very positive that at least our people will understand that this is also a kind of cinema that can be successful.

If it's worldwide, why not locally, nationally, "he said. The Cannes Film Festival will run from May 17 to 28, with prizes being awarded on the last day.Team Joyland includes filmmaker Saeem Sadiq, director Sana Jafri, producer Apoorva Charan and actors Sarwat Gilani, Sania Saeed, Ali Junejo, Alina Khan and Rusti Farooq.

Abdullah Siddiqui, 22, who made a name for himself in the music industry after producing the 14th episode of Coke Studios this year, is also the music producer for the feature film Joyland.

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