Signature Move | |
---|---|
سیگنیچر موو | |
Directed by | Jennifer Reeder |
Written by | Fawzia Mirza Lisa Donato |
Produced by | Brian Hieggelke Fawzia Mirza Eugene Sun Park |
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Christopher Rejano |
Release date |
|
Country | United States |
Languages | English Urdu Spanish |
Signature Move is a 2017 American indie comedy-drama film directed by Jennifer Reeder and co-written and produced by Fawzia Mirza about a Pakistani Muslim lesbian living in Chicago with her mother. Fawzia Mirza also introduced herself as a lesbian on Twitter before the film was announced. The film premiered at the 2017 South by Southwest Film Festival.
Premise
Zaynab, a thirty-something Pakistani, Muslim, and lesbian woman living in Chicago, takes care of her TV-obsessed mother Parveen. As Zaynab falls for Alma, a bold and very bright Mexican woman, she searches for her identity in life, love and wrestling.
Cast
- Fawzia Mirza as Zaynab
- Shabana Azmi as Parveen
- Sari Sanchez as Alma
- Audrey Francis as Jayde
- Charin Alvarez as Rosa
- Mark Hood as Milo
- Molly Brennan as Killian
- Minita Gandhi as Hina
- Mia Park as Bookstore Customer
- The scholar Kareem Khubchandani has a cameo as a man outside on whom Parveen spies.
Production
Casting
Fawzia Mirza approached Shabana Azmi in Chicago when she was there to work in a play. She signed her to play the role in the film. The film features Fawzia Mirza as a Muslim lesbian and Shabana Azmi as her mother. The cast also includes Sari Sanchez, Audrey Francis and Charin Alvarez.
Filming
Shabana Azmi moved to Chicago in early August 2016. Fawzia posted a selfie with Azmi on Instagram and announced that they have started the shooting of the film.
Awards
Year | Award | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Cleveland International Film Festival | Best American Independent Feature Film | Nominated |
FilmOut San Diego | Audience Award - Best Actress (Fawzia Mirza) | Won | |
Festival Award - Best Director (Jennifer Reeder) | Won | ||
Iris Prize Festival | Best Actress (Fawzia Mirza) | Won | |
L.A. Outfest | Grand Jury Award - Outstanding American Narrative Feature | Won | |
Paris Lesbian and Feminist Film Festival | Best Feature Film | Won | |
Nashville Film Festival | Bridgestone Narrative Feature Competition | Nominated | |
QCinema International Film Festival | Best Picture - RainbowQC Competition | Won | |
SXSW Film Festival | SXSW Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award (Jennifer Reeder) | Nominated | |
SXSW Gamechanger Award (Jennifer Reeder) | Nominated |
See also
References
- K Jha, Subhash (15 August 2016). "Shabana Azmi's next? A lesbian film!". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- "Shabana Azmi signs Pakistani filmmaker's lesbian drama". The Express Tribune. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- Gandhi, Lakshmi (30 August 2016). "Love, Family, Pro Wrestling Enter the Ring in 'Signature Move'". NBC News. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- "Breaking barriers: Shabana Azmi signs Pakistani writer's film". The Express Tribune. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ""Signature Move" Feature Film Shoots in Chicago with Shabana Azmi". SKJ Bollywood News. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
Further reading
- Betancourt, Manuel (December 6, 2017). "'Signature Move' Is a Must-See Lucha Libre Lesbian Love Story". Remezcla.
External links
Categories:- 2017 films
- Lesbian-related films
- Films about Pakistani Americans
- American LGBTQ-related films
- 2017 LGBTQ-related films
- 2017 independent films
- American independent films
- American romantic comedy-drama films
- LGBTQ-related romantic comedy-drama films
- Films shot in Chicago
- Lucha libre films
- 2010s English-language films
- 2010s Urdu-language films
- 2017 multilingual films
- Spanish-language American films
- 2010s American films
- English-language romantic comedy-drama films
- English-language independent films