Patiala, August 2 (Desk)
Acclaimed young filmmaker Gurvinder Singh’s latest Punjabi feature film ‘Rehmat’ has been selected for the main competition of the 79th Locarno Film Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious cinema events. The festival will be held in Locarno, Switzerland, from August 5 to 15, 2026, and Rehmat is among the 10 films shortlisted for the festival’s top competition.
Based on three interconnected stories about Punjab by renowned Punjabi author Ajit Kaur, Rehmat is the only Indian feature film selected for this year’s Locarno Film Festival and also the first-ever Punjabi film to compete in the festival’s main competition. The film will have its world premiere at the iconic Piazza Grande, an open-air venue with a seating capacity of 8,000.
The cast features celebrated actor Naseeruddin Shah, along with Jaswant Zafar, Director of the Punjab Language Department, making his feature film debut. The ensemble also includes Suvinder Vicky, Meeta Vashisht, Navjot Randhawa, Diya Kamboj, Anita Meet, and Harvinder Aujla.
In addition to the main competition, Rehmat has also been shortlisted among 13 international films competing for the Cinema for Change Award, which recognizes films highlighting significant social and environmental issues.
watch….ਜੇਈਈ ਵਿੱਚ 8 ਤੇ ਨੀਟ ਵਿੱਚ 6 ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਸਫਲਤਾ, ਮਲਟੀਪਰਪਜ਼ ਸਕੂਲ ਨੇ ਜਿੱਤਿਆ ਸਭ ਦਾ ਦਿਲ
Director Gurvinder Singh and six other members of the Rehmat team will attend the international festival. They will participate in the official welcome ceremony on August 5 and will interact with audiences, the jury, and international media during the film’s world premiere on August 6.
Gurvinder Singh has earned international recognition for his artistic films based on the works of eminent Punjabi writers Gurdial Singh and Waryam Sandhu. Earlier this year, he was honoured with the Punjab Gaurav (Cinema) Award by the Punjab Arts Council.
Notably, Punjabi poet Jaswant Zafar, who is part of the selected cast, makes his debut in a feature film through Rehmat. He was also honoured with the Punjab Gaurav (Literature) Award by the Punjab Arts Council last year.
Speaking about the film, Gurvinder Singh said that Rehmat portrays a difficult period in Punjab’s history marked by political and religious conflict. It tells the story of ordinary people caught between divisive forces, yet who continue to live with hope, compassion, and mutual support despite the hardships they face.
