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Joyland (2022) is a Punjabi-language film featuring a trans main character. It received a standing ovation at Cannes & the Queer Palm award. It is also Pakistan’s submission to the Oscars. One week before release, it’s been banned in Pakistan—you can guess why. #ReleaseJoyland 
The director, Saim Sadiq, called this a “grave injustice” and has asked for support to get this film to its intended audience. South Asia has few globally-acclaimed films and even fewer ones with representation. Here is a link to the director’s post. instagram.com/p/Ck6CNP5Mrlr/…
We have a lot of Pakistani followers. As an LGBT South Asian film person, this is also an issue very close to my heart. Just wanted to bring awareness to it. Limiting comments in advance bc of the bigotry in the tags. 🪐
2 years ago, when I left Pakistan, Zindagi Tamasha was banned under similar labels of "indecency and immorality".
2 years later, Joyland is being censored with the same tactics.
It's heartbreaking to see that things haven't changed a bit, probably just gotten worse.
2 years later, Joyland is being censored with the same tactics.
It's heartbreaking to see that things haven't changed a bit, probably just gotten worse.
As a filmmaker, I feel absolutely gutted. I hope to witness a day when art and culture are celebrated in Pakistan. When filmmakers don't have to hide themselves and their work. When we can accept and enjoy the diversity of this country and its stories.
Every time when someone asks me if I'll be moving back to make films about Pakistan, my heart sinks a little. The tragedy of not being able to not only express yourself but also represent yourself really pulls you down.
The censorship of Joyland is senseless. Pakistan is teeming with artists, filmmakers, writers and has a cultural richness and more importantly bravery that the world admires. A smart state would celebrate & promote this not silence and threaten it
South Korea rebuilt itself out of ruin by treating culture as an industry as valuable as automobiles. It bet on its culture and it’s been richly rewarded at home and in the world at large. I wish Pakistan had even the slightest sense of its MASSIVE soft power potential.
The end of Joyland made me weep. It’s a beautiful, honest and intelligent film and it should embarrass the state that people all over the world can watch it except people at home
