Filmmaker Gurvinder Singh’s Punjabi feature Rehmat has been selected for the main competition at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, making it the only Indian film in the race for the prestigious Golden Leopard award this year.
The film will have its world premiere at the Swiss festival, scheduled to be held from August 5 to 15, where it will compete with some of the best international films in the festival’s top category.
Rehmat features an acclaimed cast led by Naseeruddin Shah, along with Suvinder Vicky, Mita Vashisht and Navjot Randhawa. Set in rural Punjab, the film weaves together three interconnected stories that explore themes of compassion, loss, faith and human resilience.
The screenplay is adapted from stories by noted Punjabi writer Ajeet Cour, who has also co-produced the film with artist Arpana Caur. Besides competing for the Golden Leopard, Rehmat has also been nominated for the Pardo for Change award, which honours films addressing important social and cultural issues.
For Gurvinder Singh, the selection is another milestone in an internationally recognised career. His earlier films, including Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan and Chauthi Koot, received critical acclaim at leading global film festivals, earning him a reputation as one of India’s most respected independent filmmakers.
The inclusion of Rehmat in Locarno’s main competition is being seen as a significant achievement for Indian cinema, particularly Punjabi filmmaking, which has steadily gained recognition on the international festival circuit.
This selection reflects the growing global appreciation for regional Indian stories and filmmakers who bring authentic narratives to the screen. As the only Indian entry in the competition, Rehmat will carry the country’s hopes at one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious film festivals.
The film’s selection is expected to further boost the international profile of Punjabi cinema and reinforce India’s presence on the global festival stage.
