‘Joyland’: Pakistan celebrates historic win at Cannes Film Festival 2022

Pakistani film Joyland has won the country’s first-ever award at Cannes Film Festival 2022, leaving the entire nation in a celebratory mood.

Unlocking a major milestone, Saim Saddiq's film featured a daring portrait of a transgender dancer in a Muslim country.

It is the first-ever Pakistani competitive entry at the Cannes festival. It also won the Jury Prize in the "Un Certain Regard" competition, a segment focusing on young, innovative cinema talent. 

In the past, the Queer Palm has been won by big-name directors and attracted top talent to its juries, but has no official place at the world's top film festival.

Back at home, the delightful news of Joyland winning big at the Cannes Film Festival has led to netizens and celebrities flocking to social media to celebrate.

Saim Sadiq's Joyland wins the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes!

A historic moment for Pakistan, and Pakistani cinema!

Everyone should be amplifying this incredible news.

Take a bow, Saim, and the entire cast and crew.

— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) May 28, 2022

#joyland receives a jury award at @Festival_Cannes huge huge huge achievement ! Congratulations to the team & the makers ! Unbelievable debut ! Mashallah

— Nabeel Qureshi (@nabeelqureshi) May 27, 2022

Joyland beat off several other strong entries, including Close by Belgian director Lukas Dhont and Tchaikovsky's Wife by Kirill Serebrennikov, both hot contenders for the Cannes Festival's top Palme d'Or award which will be announced on Saturday.

Team ‘Joyland’ receives standing ovation at ... 08:49 PM | 24 May, 2022

It's a proud moment for Pakistan indeed as Team Joyland received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival ...