Pak-Canadian movie ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ premiering at TIFF

TORONTO: A joint production between Pakistan and Canada The Queen of My Dreams is set to make its highly anticipated debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 8, 2023.

The cross-cultural comedy has been directed and by Fawzia Mirza and includes a stellar star cast. The movie features Amrit Kaur, Nimra Bucha, Hamza Haq in the lead characters whereas Gul e Rana, Ali A. Kazmi, Meher Jaffri, Bakhtawar Mazhar, and Adnan Jaffar contribute to the movie’s compelling narrative.

The movie was shot for 30 days in Karachi and an additional 10 days in Nova Scotia, Canada. It follows Azra, a Pakistani woman in Toronto, challenging her mother’s conservative views. After her father’s death in Pakistan, Azra journeys through a blend of real and imagined memories, exploring her mother’s past in Karachi and her own upbringing in rural Canada with hints of Bollywood influence.

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This cinematic venture stands as the result of a distinctive cross-border collaboration, uniting Pakistani producers Kamil Chima and Carol Noronha with their Canadian counterparts Jason Levangie, Marc Tetreault, and Andria Wilson Mirza.

Meanwhile, the visual aspects were brought to life under the direction of Canadian cinematographer Matt Irwin and Production Designer Michael Pierson. Furthermore, the creators collaborated with Karachi-based talents, including Cyrus Kyranjia and Imran Naeem for art, Fizza Ejaz and Faiz Rohani for costume, and Minahil Chima and Nanson Gill for makeup.

Many Canadian organisations provided significant support for the movie, including Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund, Nova Scotia’s government, Screen Nova Scotia, Ontario’s government, and the Government of Canada. Meanwhile, producer Anam Abbas linked with In Flames served also an Executive Producer, along with Farjad Akhtar and Ameer Hamza.

Nonetheless, the upcoming premiere at the TIFF marks a significant milestone for the movie’s creators, offering audiences a unique cinematic journey transcending cultural and geographical boundaries. As Pakistan continues to forge its path toward global recognition, The Queen of My Dreams stands as another jewel in the nation’s creative crown.