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SXSW-Bound Canadian Film ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ Sells to U.K. and More International Markets for LevelK
Read more about The Queen of My Dreams here
March 7th 2024

SXSW-Bound Canadian Film ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ Sells to U.K. and More International Markets for LevelK

Ahead of its U.S. premiere at SXSW, “The Queen of My Dreams” has been sold to a flurry of international markets, including in the U.K. and Ireland to Peccadillo Pictures.

Represented globally by LevelK, the colorful drama-comedy world premiered at Toronto and had its international premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. “The Queen of My Dreams” will play at SXSW in the Festival Favorites section.

Along with Ireland and the U.K., “The Queen of My Dreams” has secured theatrical distribution deals in Eastern Europe (HBO), Indonesia (PT. Falcon) and Pakistan (Cine Entertainment). Further sales are currently being negotiated. Cineplex Pictures will give the movie a wide release across Canada starting on March 22.

The film revolves around Azra, a Pakistani woman living in Toronto who is worlds apart from her conservative Muslim mother. When her father suddenly dies on a trip home to Pakistan, Azra finds herself on a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories, both real and imagined, from her mother’s youth in Karachi to her own coming-of-age in rural Canada.

Peccadillo Pictures’ Tom Abell said, “We are in love with this beautiful film that so vividly captures two moments in time and are delighted to bring ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ to the U.K. and Ireland”.

Mirza, meanwhile, described the film as a “mother-daughter story, a celebration of the joy, power and resilience of Muslim and South Asian women.”

“It was a dream come true to shoot this film in Pakistan and Canada, and it is the realization of an even bigger dream to now have the chance to share it with audiences around the globe,” said Mirza, a Canadian-born film and TV writer, director and producer, who has been named a White House Champion of Change in Asian American Storytelling.

The Canadian film was produced by Jason Levangie (“Kids vs. Aliens”) and Marc Tetreault (“Suck It Up”) for Shut Up & Color Pictures, and Andria Wilson Mirza for Baby Daal Productions. Financial support comes from Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund, Province of Nova Scotia, Screen Nova Scotia, Province of Ontario and Government of Canada. Read the Variety exclusive here.