Signature Move

Signature Move
سیگنیچر موو
Directed byJennifer Reeder
Written byFawzia Mirza
Lisa Donato
Produced byBrian Hieggelke
Fawzia Mirza
Eugene Sun Park
Starring
CinematographyChristopher Rejano
Release date
  • March 11, 2017 (2017-03-11) (SXSW)
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
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.[1] Fawzia Mirza also introduced herself as a lesbian on Twitter before the film was announced.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4][5]

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

  1. ^ K Jha, Subhash (15 August 2016). "Shabana Azmi's next? A lesbian film!". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Shabana Azmi signs Pakistani filmmaker's lesbian drama". The Express Tribune. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  3. ^ Gandhi, Lakshmi (30 August 2016). "Love, Family, Pro Wrestling Enter the Ring in 'Signature Move'". NBC News. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Breaking barriers: Shabana Azmi signs Pakistani writer's film". The Express Tribune. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  5. ^ ""Signature Move" Feature Film Shoots in Chicago with Shabana Azmi". SKJ Bollywood News. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.

Further reading