Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting banned Saim Sadiq’s joy landthe film Pakistan submitted for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film category, overturning an earlier decision to clear the film for theatrical release.
Sadiq and the team behind the film are appealing the ban, calling it a “sudden turn” and “absolutely unconstitutional and illegal.”
“Our film has been seen and certified by all three censor boards in August 2022,” Sadiq said in an Instagram post. “The 18th amendment to Pakistan’s constitution gives all provinces autonomy to make their own decisions. But suddenly the ministry succumbed to pressure from some extremist factions who had not seen the film.”
The film, which won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is about a Pakistani family whose youngest son secretly participates in erotic dance theater and falls in love with a trans woman.
On Friday, a Pakistani fashion designer shared a series of Instagram stories about the film, saying it violated Islam and Pakistan’s social values. Soon after, a #BanJoyland hash started circulating on Twitter in Pakistan.
Responding to the matter, Pakistan’s I&B Ministry issued a notice stating that the film was not certified for Pakistan. The domestic release was scheduled for November 18.
The ministry’s statement reads: “Following the film’s release, written complaints were received that the film contains highly offensive material that is incompatible with the social values and moral standards of our society and clearly violates the norms of ‘decency and morality’. . as stipulated in Section 9 of the 1979 Film Ordinance.
“The federal government declares the feature film titled Joyland as an uncertified film for all of Pakistan in cinemas under the jurisdiction of the CBFC with immediate effect.”
The film has had an extensive festival run since its Cannes premiere, where it was the first Pakistani film to be screened at the festival, most recently at the Dharamshala International Film Festival in India. It also won the Cannes Queen Palm, starred at the Toronto International Film Festival and won the Young Cinema Award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Australia last weekend.
Author: Liz Shackleton
Source: Deadline
Kenneth Weaver is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He focuses on writing about celebrity-related news, keeping his readers up to date with the latest happenings in the entertainment industry. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for writing, Kenneth brings his unique perspective to every article he writes, making him a trusted source for all things celebrity.
