He previously won the same award for his 2022 film Kamli.
Updated 16 Sep, 2026
Sarmad Khoosat has two modes: he’s either making a good film or winning an award for making a good film. The acclaimed Pakistani director helped shine a spotlight on the country’s name on the international stage yet again after winning the Best Director award at the 15th DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF) for his latest feature, Lali.
The official Instagram page for DCSAFF posted the news on Tuesday.
Khoosat shared the exciting win in an Instagram story the same day.
“We won an award at DCAFF. Mubarak to my Lali team and bohat shukria to the lovely people who have been bringing our stories to Amreeka for the last 15 years with so much warmth and dedication,” he wrote.
For people who have followed Khoosat’s journey in the entertainment industry, this latest recognition comes as little surprise. He first made his mark through his television work, most notably by directing Humsafar, which turned out to be a massive hit with audiences not just in Pakistan but across the world. However, it was his transition to the silver screen that cemented his reputation as a filmmaker who tackles difficult subjects with emotional depth and visual flair.
In 2019, his film Zindagi Tamashaearned the Kim Ji-seok Award at the Busan International Film Festival and was selected as Pakistan’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. It also bagged the Snow Leopard Award for Best Film at the 6th Asian World Film Festival in 2021. But it wasn’t just the accolades that made Zindagi Tamasha special. The film’s well documented journey — delayed in Pakistan amid controversy and eventually released on YouTube — serves as proof of Khoosat’s commitment to his artistic vision despite obstacles.
2022’s Kamli, Khoosat’s more recent offering, achieved a similar level of success when it won him the Best Director award at the 22nd Lux Style Awards.
In February, Lalimade history as the first fully Pakistani-produced feature to screen at the Berlinale. Just this month, the film was <a href="https://images.dawn.com/news/1195772/sarmad-khoosats-lali-to-screen-at-uks-biggest-film-event-the-bfi-london-film-festival” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>selected to show at the 70th BFI London Film Festival — the United Kingdom’s biggest film event.
Lali’s story, co- follows Zeba, a young woman branded a “cursed bride” after three of her previous suitors mysteriously die
What makes this DCSAFF win particularly meaningful is that it isn’t a first for Khoosat. The festival previously honoured him for his contributions to Pakistani television and cinema when Kamli took home Best Director just three years ago.
This latest award is just a confirmation that Khoosat remains one of the most important voices in South Asian cinema who has consistently delivered art that resonates with audiences and critics alike.
