Signature Move

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.

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

Premise

Zaynab (Fawzia Mirza), a thirty-something Pakistani, Muslim, lesbian in Chicago takes care of her TV-obsessed mother Parveen (Shabana Azmi). As Zaynab falls for Alma (Sari Sanchez), 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
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