Willa and Created from Culture have acquired the U.S. distribution rights to “The Queen of My Dreams,” marking a meaningful step for the film in boutique cinema distribution.
The highly praised debut feature by writer-director Fawzia Mirza is set to begin its theatrical release in select U.S. cities on June 20, followed by availability on digital streaming platforms.
This poignant narrative centers around Azra (Amrit Kaur), a queer South Asian graduate student who navigates her complex relationship with her conventional mother (Nimra Bucha, known for “Polite Society”). following a family tragedy in Pakistan, Azra embarks on an evocative journey through memories that reflect her mother’s youth in Karachi during 1969 and her own coming-of-age experiences in rural Canada.
Having premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, “The Queen of My Dreams” has gained traction within the festival circuit with screenings at notable events such as SXSW, BFI London Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Bentonville Film Festival, and SCAD Savannah. Amrit Kaur received special jury recognition for her performance at SCAD Savannah.This canada-Pakistan co-production has already garnered accolades including two canadian Screen Awards and several prestigious Directors Guild of Canada awards for both direction and production design.
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“When you create a film intended for theaters, your aspiration is to see it showcased on large screens nationwide alongside partners who appreciate the cinematic experience,” filmmaker Mirza expressed. ”Willa and Created from Culture are those ideal collaborators—two dynamic women-led companies that believe in ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ and understand how to connect it with its intended audience.”
The female-driven distributors are also collaborating on another project later this year as they continue their commitment to sharing culturally significant narratives.
Elizabeth Woodward, founder and CEO of Willa, commended the film as “an elegant piece that transcends genres while addressing themes of generational identity, diaspora experiences, and queer joy with remarkable depth and artistic vision.”
for Created from Culture, this release signifies an vital milestone. “Bringing ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ into theaters marks a pivotal moment for our institution,” stated Archana Misra Jain, CEO of Created from Culture. “It tells a story rich with layers of identity and culture that we rarely see represented onscreen—especially delivered through such an engaging cinematic lens.”
This film is produced through collaboration between Shut Up & Color Pictures and Toddler Daal Productions alongside Spark Capabilities and FlimShow; international sales are managed by LevelK.Previous distribution agreements include Cineplex Pictures for Canada (where it is currently available on Crave), Peccadillo Pictures for the UK market, HBO covering Eastern Europe rights, along with Syldavia handling Spain’s distribution.
The production received support from Telefilm canada along with contributions from the Canada Media Fund and also provincial funding from Nova Scotia and Ontario; additional backing came from cloak Nova Scotia alongside Crave TV services provided by CBC.