Cake will be submitted for Oscar consideration

Arguably one of the best Pakistani movies of recent times, it's no surprise that Cake may find itself in the running for an Oscar.

The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee, chaired by two-time Academy Award and Emmy winning documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, has selected Cake to be submitted for Oscar consideration in the 'Foreign Language Film Award’ category at the 91st Academy Awards.

The committee is chaired by two-time Academy Award and Emmy winning documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and includes Kamila Shamshi [Novelist], Saira Kazmi [Actress and Director}, HM Naqvi [Novelist], Hadiqa Kiani [singer, song writer, and philanthropist], Ali Sethi [Singer and writer]. Zoe Viccaji [Singer, Song-writer, and musical actress], Nadeem Farooq Paracha [Journalist, author, and cultural critic], Nabila Maqsood [Haistylist and entrepreneur], Khalid Malik [Actor and Radio Jockey] and Faisal Qureishi [Actor].

Set in Karachi, Cake follows the lives of two sisters, one of whom lives abroad and the other is ‘left’ behind. Burdened with guilt and resentments, the sisters confront old secrets and realize that sometimes the only way for a family to move on, is by finding a way back. The film stars leading Pakistani actors, Sanam Saeed, Aamina Sheikh and Adnan Malik in pivotal roles and is the debut feature for writer/director Asim Abbasi. It has been produced by Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari.

Talking about the nod, Abbasi shares,"I am extremely honoured to have Cake representing Pakistan this year, and grateful to the selection committee for considering it worthy. My deepest gratitude for my Cake family, who worked so hard and with so much belief to bring this film to the audiences. 2018 is proving to be a great year for Pakistani cinema. May it continue to grow and may we always find the courage and the vision to tell our stories our own way."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will choose the final nominees for all award categories including Best Foreign Language Film in January 2019. The complete and final list of Oscar nominees will be announced on January 22, 2019 with the presentation show for the 91st Academy Awards scheduled to take place on February 24, 2019.