London: Renowned Pakistani filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat has won the Best Director award at the 15th DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF) for his new Punjabi language feature film, Lali. The award was officially announced on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, under the festival’s “Bridging Cultures Through Films” category. Khoosat shared the announcement on his Instagram, expressing gratitude to the festival organisers for presenting South Asian cinema to American audiences for 15 years and extending congratulations to the entire Lali cast and crew. This marks Khoosat's second DCSAFF Best Director win, having previously claimed the honour for his 2022 film Kamli.
Co written by Khoosat and Sundus Hashmi, Lali stars Mamya Shajaffar as Zeba, a young woman branded a "cursed bride" after three of her suitors die in mysterious circumstances, alongside an ensemble cast featuring Channan Hanif, Joyland's Rasti Farooq, and Meher Bano, with Saim Sadiq editing.
The film has enjoyed a landmark international festival run in 2026, premiering at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival as the first fully Pakistani produced feature to screen at the Berlinale. It subsequently earned an honourable mention at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, secured a slot in the "Laugh" strand at the 70th BFI London Film Festival, and has been named the red carpet opening gala film for the Mississauga International South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF).
