British Pakistani director Sarmad Masud’s debut feature My Pure Land has been announced as Britain’s submission for the foreign language category at the Oscars in 2018, Variety reported. Inspired by real-life events, the drama chronicles the story of a mother and two daughters who defend their home and land in rural Sindh in Pakistan from a militia of 200 bandits. Produced by Bill Kenwright Films, My Pure Land has been shot in Pakistan.
Masud’s film marks the first time that Britain has selected an Urdu language film to compete for the Oscars. The United Kingdom has been nominated twice before in the foreign language category, but has not yet won an award.
My Pure Land was premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June, and is scheduled to be released in the UK on September 15.
The nominees for best foreign language film will be announced by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on 23 January, 2018. India will announce its nomination in the coming weeks.
