Iram Parveen Bilal’s award-winning Pakistani thriller “Wakhri” has been distributed in many international territories. Theatrical and broadcast releases will air this fall in France, the UK and Ireland, Australia and Brazil, with more territories to follow in the coming months.
The film will hit theaters in France this October through Salon Indien, a touring film collective dedicated to South Asian female filmmakers. Curatorial platform Contre-courants has partnered with François-Xavier Durandy to launch the initiative that will bring its selections to venues across the country.
The film focuses on Pakistani women who oppose patriarchy, including social media star Qandeel Baloch. Baloch was killed by his brother in 2016 because he believed he had damaged the family’s honor through online posts that were considered mild by Western standards. “Wakhri” builds on strong turns by two debutant leads: Faryal Mehmood as Noor, a young widow who raises money to open a girls’ school, and Gulshan Majeed as her cross-dressing best friend Gucchi.
Helene Kessous, who co-founded Salon Indien with Nemesis Srour, said “Wakhri” was among the community’s first picks. “Funny, challenging and necessary, Iram Parveen Bilal’s film explores what social media offers and costs those who dare to speak out. It belonged to this program from the beginning.”
Bilal, who wrote, directed and co-produced the film, said that French theater was a dream come true. “We searched and waited for the right partners for a film too special to fit into a box office distribution model. ‘Wakhri’ is a unique and bold representation of Pakistani cinema and we are excited to break the mold of cinematic fare often expected from the Global South,” he said.
Abid Aziz Merchant from Art Initiative, one of the producers of the film, said that the screening in France proved that the story cannot be stopped. “This is about the cost of a woman daring to take up space, a conversation that resonates far beyond Pakistan. We are delighted to find our French audience through Salon Indien. For a film inspired by Qandeel Baloch’s courage to be part of a traveling showcase supporting South Asian female directors in a country that truly values cinema, it is a proud moment for Pakistani cinema and the right next chapter for ‘Wakhri’,” said Merchant.
In the UK, “Wakhri” is part of Channel 4’s 2026 South Asian Movie Season. It is featured alongside “All We Dream of as Light” and “Songs of Forgotten Trees” and will be available to stream on the streamer this October. SBS acquired the film for Australia and Filmicca for Brazil.
“Indie films are built on faith, collaboration and creative co-production models that enable meaningful distribution journeys. We’re thrilled to see our bold and critically acclaimed indie ‘Wakhri’ continue to connect with audiences seeking distinctive cinema. Our regional partners are extending the film’s visibility, relevance and runtime. This long-term approach allows individual stories to travel on their own terms and build enduring audiences around the world,” said Awedacious Originals’ Apoorva Bakshi. Originals’ Apoorva Bakshi is also the producer of the film.
Bilal is the producer of the Pakistani film “Dancers,” which is currently participating in the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Project Market.
It is expected to be released in North America and other markets in the coming months.