We had IndieMeme Co-Founder Alka Bhanot discuss two hotly anticipated films. Both Polite Society and Joyland mark the directors’ feature debut. Learn more about these phenomenal South Asian films below and where you can watch them! 

Polite Society - In theaters 4/28

Polite Society is certainly a dream of all the young brown women growing up around the world. It is refreshing to see representation this cool! As we wrapped up the 8th Indie Meme Film Festival - Polite Society was what we all needed as the Closing Night Film - pure joy and some kick-ass action in lehengas :-)

It's been a long road but I have now been able to make the feature film of my dreams,” shares filmmaker Nida Manzoor.

The film is not only super fun but breaks the Muslim stereotypes and is normal and superhero-like all at the same time. The heady concoction of action, comedy, and drama with an homage to Bollywood with music and styling are marvelously and effortlessly woven together! It's a smartly structured and lovingly detailed mashup of genres for sure! Priya Kansara (Ria) is the new poster child for the cool kid on the block. Her sister on screen Ritu Arya (Lena) is perfectly cast as well and their sisterly bond is glorious to watch! Veteran actor Nimra Bucha(Raheela) matches any Marvel villain with her powerful performance.

This film will be even more fun when watched with friends, family, colleagues. So collect your tribe and so watch Polite Society.

Nida Manzoor's debut feature might just be the most fun film of 2023 so far!

Joyland - Release Date 5/5

Indie Meme co-presented the much-hyped JOYLAND with aGLIFF in March.

But there is a backstory to this which involves multiple different organizations & individuals chasing the film’s distributors /producers for special screenings in Austin TX -- having received rave reviews on the festival circuit, this was a much-coveted film.

The single screening was quickly SOLD OUT with many sitting on the floor and on extra chairs that were brought in - but that is what made the screening special - the feeling of watching it with the community. And the film did not disappoint! Bold & progressive stories from Pakistan, have of late, become the norm for Independent films and we are so excited to be able to get that content in the US even if these are banned in Pakistan.

Set in Lahore, JOYLAND is the story of a conservative middle-class family. The audience is on a journey through the film, you feel elated and at the same time angry. There is hope but there is also absolute gloom and repression. In a country going through change and transformation, this push and pull is the true reality of its people. The film is Saim Sadiq's debut feature. It is not just a queer film - it is a film about families, people, and relationships. About sexuality and freedom and about the pressure of expectations from each other, from the family, and from the society we live in. 

While this Muslim story is not so clearly about good guys and bad guys, there are no clear villains...it is us, we are all complicit in some way in creating this feeling of suffocation for each other. Each actor is perfectly cast and has so much value to add to the plot. Ali Junejo (Haider) and Rasti Farooq (Mumtaz) are lovely to watch on screen and transgender actress Alina Khan steals the show with her on-screen presence.

JOYLAND will live with you much after you have walked out of the theater.

*Check out screenings at AFS Cinema with AAAFF’s AAVClub $3 off code: AAAFF$3

AFS Cinema will be screening the film from May 5-11.