Onir’s We Are Faheem & Karun to premiere at BFI flare 2025
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Acclaimed filmmaker Onir’s latest queer romantic drama, We Are Faheem & Karun, has been officially selected for screening at the prestigious British Film Institute's (BFI) Flare 2025.
The film will be showcased at London’s LGBTIQ+ film festival on March 20 and 22, marking a significant milestone for Kashmiri representation in global cinema.
Sharing his excitement about the film’s international premiere, Onir highlighted its cultural and cinematic significance. "This is the first time a Kashmiri-language film, shot entirely in the border region of Gurez, is being screened at the festival. It is also the first queer narrative to emerge from the Valley," he stated.
The film tells a deeply moving love story between Karun, a security guard from Kerala stationed at a construction site, and Faheem, a local Kashmiri college student. Set against the breathtaking yet politically charged landscape of Kashmir, We Are Faheem & Karun brings a fresh and much-needed perspective to queer storytelling in Indian cinema.
Onir expressed his pride in ensuring authentic representation in the film, noting that several Kashmiri actors would be present at the London screening. "Representation has always been important to me. Alongside lead actor Akash Menon from Kerala, the film features Kashmiri talents such as Mir Tawseef, Mir Salman, Bashir Lone, and Sana Javeid," he shared.
Produced under the banner of Anticlock Films by Deepa Mehta and Onir, We Are Faheem & Karun serves as the first installment in a planned sequel to the filmmaker’s critically acclaimed anthology I AM. Known for pushing boundaries in queer and independent cinema, Onir continues his legacy with this poignant and groundbreaking film.
The BFI Flare Film Festival is set to run from March 19 to 30.