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Oscar winner Riz Ahmed joins Saim Sadiq’s Joyland as executive producer

Oscar winner Riz Ahmed joins Saim Sadiq’s Joyland as executive producer

"Our motto is 'go left' and Saim Sadiq’s unique film does just that. Joyland is ground-breaking. And it’s easy to get lost in all the ways that it is," he wrote on Instagram.
13 Jan, 2023

British-Pakistani actor and Oscar winner Riz Ahmed has joined Saim Sadiq’s Joyland team as executive producer. He joined the ranks of Malala Yousafzai, who also serves as an executive producer for the film, and took to Instagram to announce that his production company Left Handed Films is now a part of the Joyland team as they inch towards Oscars official nominations.

On Thursday, Ahmed shared Joyland’s poster on Instagram and wrote, “We are so proud at Left Handed Films to be a part of Joyland. Our motto is ‘go left’ and Saim Sadiq’s unique film does just that. Joyland is ground-breaking. And it’s easy to get lost in all the ways that it is; the first Pakistani film at Cannes, the first award-winner, the first to be Oscar shortlisted, and a queer love story that has overcome multiple bans. But more important than any of the glass ceilings it smashes, is how this film so masterfully breaks our hearts.”

He called Sadiq’s style of filmmaking “understated and gut-wrenching” and his writing “consistently unexpected” because every scene from Joyland is, to him, elegantly composed yet bursting with raw performances.

Joyland is one of the best films of the year, and against all odds of resources and marketing budgets, it’s been amazing to see festival juries, audiences, and critics shouting that from the rooftops,” Ahmed said.

Sadiq told Variety, “I am excited that Riz and Left Handed Films will be joining Joyland as EPs. Riz and his production company have a track record of exquisite taste and having them on board further affirms our belief in both the urgency and universality of Joyland.”

According to the publication, Ahmed is one of many executive producers on board, alongside Yousafzai, Ramin Bahrani, Jemima Khan, William Olsson, Jen Goyne Blake, Tiffany Boyle, Elsa Ramo, Oleg Dubson, Kathrin Lohmann, Hari Charana Prasad, Sukanya Puvvula and Owais Ahmed

On Wednesday, the Academy awards shared a photo of the 15 films that have advanced to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category, including Sadiq’s Joyland.

They also announced that the official nominations for the 95th Academy Awards will be announced on Jan 24. We’re all hoping that Sadiq’s Joyland makes it through and brings the golden statuette home. The Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on March 12 in Los Angeles.

Comments

NYS Jan 13, 2023 01:29pm
Post production how many partners will join this film that accolades Oscar
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Armagan Jan 13, 2023 01:36pm
great news, at least one industry in Pakistan is breaking new ground and moving forward
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jan 13, 2023 01:51pm
Birds of the feathers, always flock together.
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Sam Jan 13, 2023 06:34pm
Going left? Its going down the drain!
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Sam Jan 13, 2023 06:45pm
Agenda driven efforts!
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Jigen.m19 Jan 13, 2023 06:54pm
Yep bringing this western nonsense to Pakistan. Why? They want biologically normal people to feel bad about themselves
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John Jan 13, 2023 09:07pm
Looks like the awards script has been written!
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Dr. Rafiq Khan Jan 14, 2023 12:33am
what oscar is india going to win? best copy of a Pakistani song?
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Sam Jan 14, 2023 04:32am
@Jigen.m19 Massive funding!
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Raghs Jan 14, 2023 09:39am
@Dr. Rafiq Khan: Poor guy thinks India only has one film industry like Pakistan. May be next time try googling you would be googled.
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