Pakistani filmmaker Sarmad Sultan Khoosat has won the Best Director award at the 15th DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF) for his Punjabi-language feature film Lali. The award was announced as part of the festival’s 2026 edition, which carries the theme “Bridging Cultures Through Films.”
The DCSAFF award marks another international recognition for Lali, which has been part of the global film festival circuit throughout 2026. It is also Khoosat’s second Best Director win at DCSAFF. The filmmaker previously received the same award at the festival for Kamli in 2023.
Khoosat acknowledged the latest recognition on Instagram, congratulating the Lali team and thanking the people behind DCSAFF for bringing South Asian stories to audiences in the United States.
Lali has had a notable international festival run since the beginning of 2026. The film had its world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in February, where it screened in the Panorama section. Berlinale’s official film listing identifies Lali as a 2026 Pakistani production directed by Khoosat and starring Mamya Shajaffar, Channan Hanif, Rasti Farooq, Farazeh Syed and Mehr Bano.
The film was also described by Dawn as the first fully Pakistani-produced feature to premiere at the Berlinale.
Following its Berlin premiere, Lali continued its festival journey in North America. The film was selected for the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA), where it had its North American premiere in April. The festival lists Khoosat as the director and identifies Sundus Hashmi and Khoosat as the screenwriters.
The film has also been selected for the 70th BFI London Film Festival, where it is listed as a 2026 Pakistani production. According to the BFI, Lali is a 116-minute Punjabi-language film with English subtitles.
Lali follows Zeba, played by Mamya Shajaffar, a young woman who is considered cursed after two previous fiancés die unexpectedly. She is subsequently married to Sajawal, played by Channan Hanif. The story combines elements of arranged marriage, superstition, fear and dark comedy.
The film was co-written by Khoosat and Sundus Hashmi. Its cast also includes Rasti Farooq, Farazeh Syed and Mehr Bano. Saim Sadiq, director of Joyland, is credited as the film’s editor. Abdullah Siddiqui composed the music.
The Best Director award at DCSAFF adds to Khoosat’s record of recognition at international film festivals. His 2019 film Zindagi Tamasha received the Kim Ji-seok Award at the Busan International Film Festival, while Kamli premiered internationally at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Lali is scheduled to continue its international festival run with its Canadian premiere at the Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF) on September 30, 2026. The festival has selected the film as its opening-night feature at Cineplex Mississauga, followed by a question-and-answer session with Khoosat.
With its DCSAFF recognition and screenings at festivals in Berlin, Los Angeles and London, Lali continues its international festival journey while adding another award to Khoosat’s filmography.
