JOYLAND JOTS JOYOUS* : PALM SPRINGS FILM FESTIVAL

 

' Joyland ' wins big at Palm Springs Film Festival.  And Ali Junejo bags Best Actor Award.

We're off to a good start for the times as we wake up to the news of Saim Sadiq Joyland winning an award at the Palm Springs Film Festival. Lead star Ali Junejo, who essays Haider in the critically acclaimed film, bagged the Best Actor award at the coveted event.

The news was shared on Joyland's social media platforms as well as Palm Springs Film Festival's official website. Junejo, who wasn't available to receive the award, expressed his gratitude in a video message.

'' I'm really humbled, this is a huge honour,'' he can be heard saying in the clip. '' I'm so proud that our little baby, Joyland, has gotten where it has. It's been getting so much love from so many people. It's really touching. ''

He went on to recall, '' I remember when we were making this film in Gawal Mandi, we just wanted to tell the story as honestly as possible. And look at where we are; the fact that I am doing this, the fact that we are shortlisted for the Academy Awards, it is the most amazing thing.''

Junejo continued to thank his director Sadiq, for trusting him to essay Haider in the award-winning film.

He then thanked Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan and the rest of the cast for helping Haider find the way. Junejo shared he was grateful to the crew and producer Sarmad Khoosat and Apoorva Guru Charan.

''This is for all of us,'' Junejo commented. ''These characters have found such a place in my heart and I know all of us feel that way. I hope anyone who watches this also thinks the same.'' 

The actor concluded his acceptance speech by thanking his theatre family.''You guys, Sunil, Fawad  -you believed in me for all these years, look at where we are now,'' he said.

The jury, too, spoke about awarding Junejo for his noteworthy performance in the hit film :

''We award the Best Actor Prize to Ali Junejo in Joyland for his intimate, thoughtful and nuanced performance as Haider, a man grappling with his diverging sense of self and familial responsibility,'' the statement read.

''Junejo emerges as the film's most flexible and dependable performance owing to his generosity and earnestness with each cast member, both in behavioral and linguistic choices.''

Joyland features a daring portrait of a transgender dancer in Pakistan that first made headlines when it won the Cannes Queer Palm Prize for best LGBT, queer or feminist-themed movie. 

The World Students Society thanks News Desk, The Express Tribune.