Sarmad Masud's 'My Pure Land' to Represent Britain in Foreign-Language Oscar Nominations

Sarmad Masud’s debut film, My Pure Land, has been chosen as Britain’s submission for the foreign-language Oscar race.

My Pure Land is based on the true story of Nazo Dharejo who along with her two daughters in rural Pakistan who were forced to defend their land from a militia of 200 bandits. Its submission marks the first time an Urdu-language film has been Britain’s selection for the foreign-language Oscar.

An up-and-coming director, Masud earned critical acclaim with his short film Two Dosas, which was funded by Film London and was voted best film in their London Calling Plus category.

My Pure Land was shot in Pakistan in difficult conditions.  The movie’s production company, Bill Kenwright Films, said the crew had to negotiate their way through heavily armed civilian regions. The production banner described the film as “a violent contemporary Western but grounded in realism and crucially with a feminist theme.”

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will announce the nominees for best foreign-language film on January 23, 2018. The 90th Oscars ceremony takes place March 4, 2018.