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Joyland (film)

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Joyland
Release poster featuring a painting by Salman Toor
Directed bySaim Sadiq
Written by
  • Saim Sadiq
  • Maggie Briggs
Produced by
CinematographyJoe Saade
Edited by
  • Saim Sadiq
  • Jasmin Tenucci
Music byAbdullah Siddiqui
Production
companies
  • All Caps
  • Khoosat Films
  • Diversity Hire Ltd.
  • One Two Twenty Entertainment
  • Blood Moon Creative
  • NNB Digital Media
  • Film Manufacturers Inc.
  • Astrakan AB
  • Noruz Films
  • Vidhi Films
Distributed byFilm Constellation
Release dates
  • 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) (Cannes)
  • 18 November 2022 (2022-11-18) (Pakistan)
Running time
127 minutes[1]
CountryPakistan
LanguagesPunjabi
Urdu
Box office$1.2 million[2][3]

Joyland (Urdu: جوائے لینڈ) is a 2022 Pakistani drama film, written and directed by Saim Sadiq in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani, and Salmaan Peerzada. Set in inner-city Lahore, Joyland centers around the low-income Rana family, headed by an elder patriarch (Peerzada) who yearns for the birth of a grandson. He forces his daughter-in-law Mumtaz (Farooq) to quit her job after Haider (Junejo), his youngest son and her husband, finds work at an erotic dance theater. However, complications arise when Haider becomes infatuated with Biba (Khan), a hijra dancer.[4]

Joyland had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on 23 May 2022, becoming the first Pakistani film to premiere at the festival. It screened in the Un Certain Regard section, where it competed for the Caméra d'Or.[5] It won the Jury Prize,[6] as well as the Queer Palm for best LGBTQ-themed film.[7] It was initially banned for theatrical release in Pakistan, but eventually approved for release after minor cuts. It premiered domestically on 18 November 2022 and received generally positive reviews from critics. Joyland was Pakistan's entry for Best International Feature Film at 95th Academy Awards,[8] where it became the first Pakistani film to be shortlisted in the category.[9]

Plot

[edit]

In inner-city Lahore, Amanullah is the elder patriarch of the middle-class Rana family. His younger son, Haider, has spent years unemployed, while Haider's wife, Mumtaz, works as an aesthetician at a salon. Haider's friend Qaiser helps Haider secure a job as a backup dancer at an erotic dance theater, where he is to perform as a backup dancer for Biba, a hijra dancer. Haider had previously seen a bloodied Biba at a hospital, when Haider's sister-in-law Nucchi was giving birth to a fourth daughter. Upon learning that Haider has found work, Amanullah—who wishes for a grandson—orders Mumtaz to quit her job, to her dismay.

Haider joins his fellow backup dancers for rehearsals with Biba, but demonstrates little experience with dancing. After the rehearsal, Haider accompanies Biba to the theater, where he witnesses an argument between Biba and the theater manager over the affordability of a standee of Biba. Biba and Haider place an order for the standee at a shop. At the Rana household, Mumtaz and Nucchi install an air cooler. That night, while Biba attends an event at which she is groped by a man, meanwhile Haider goes to pick up the standee. Unable to store it at the theater, Haider brings the standee home, and he and Mumtaz place it on the roof.

The next morning, Fayyaz, a widow and family friend, notices the standee on the roof and alerts Amanullah. Fayyaz and Amanullah chide Haider and the standee as shameful. At another rehearsal, Haider begins to show improvement in his dancing. That night, Biba and Haider go to Biba's home, where she explains her bloodied appearance at the hospital—the blood belonged to another hijra, Tina, who was shot and killed by a man in front of Biba. Haider and Biba talk about the ocean, and Haider says that he has never been outside Lahore. They nearly kiss, but Haider goes home. In bed with Mumtaz, Haider asks her about the ocean, and Mumtaz suggest they visit it someday. Haider says he cannot sleep; he returns to Biba, and the two passionately kiss.

On another night, Mumtaz and Nucchi go to an amusement park called Joyland, while Haider and the other backup dancers prepare to perform alongside Biba. When the electricity at the theater unexpectedly shuts off, Haider convinces Biba and the other dancers to go through with their performance until the lights come back on; their routine proves a success with the audience. Later that night, Nucchi's husband Saleem catches Mumtaz masturbating to another man, who is himself masturbating in an alley visible from her bathroom window. The next morning, Fayyaz's son scolds the Rana family, as Fayyaz spent the previous night in Amanullah's company, a fact her son considers disgraceful.

Mumtaz and Nucchi visit a doctor and learn that Mumtaz is pregnant with a boy. Mumtaz tells Nucchi that she feels like "running away", but dismisses her own statement as a joke. At the theater, Qaiser and the other backup dancers ask Haider probing questions about Biba's genitals, resulting in Biba angrily rebuking them. Later, Biba and Haider prepare to have sex, but when Haider tries to position himself as a receptive partner, Biba furiously kicks him out and tells him not to return to her nor the theater. Haider returns home and cries when Mumtaz tells him that they are expecting a son.

After a party for Amanullah's 70th birthday, Mumtaz retrieves a hidden bottle from the tank of a bathroom toilet and drinks from it. Mumtaz is later found dead. Family, neighbors and others—including Biba—gather and pray as her body is washed, shrouded, and taken away for burial. After the funeral, Haider becomes angry at Saleem when Saleem maligns Mumtaz for killing herself and her unborn son. Nucchi chastises Saleem, and says that Mumtaz's death is the fault of the entire family. In the past, an as-yet-unmarried Haider visits Mumtaz at her home, and asks her, in spite of their marriage being arranged, if she herself wants to marry him; they mutually agree to marry. In the present, Haider leaves Lahore to visit the ocean, and wades out into the water.

Cast

[edit]

Release

[edit]

Premiere and festival screenings

[edit]

Joyland had its world premiere at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section on 23 May 2022.[12] Film Constellation, a U.K. and France-based sales firm, has taken up the international rights for the film, which will be shared with WME Independent for representation in North America.[13] French rights of the film were acquired by Condor.[4]

The film was invited at 2022 Toronto International Film Festival in the "Special Presentations" section and was screened on 8 September 2022.[14][15] It was also selected as part of the 27th Busan International Film Festival's "A Window on Asian Cinema" section, screening on 6 October 2022.[16] Later in December, it was invited to the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival and was screened on 18 December 2022.[17] In the same month, it was also invited to "Spotlight" section of 2023 Sundance Film Festival, held from 19 to 29 January 2023.[18]

Joyland did not screen at the International Film Festival of Kerala, one of India's most respected film festivals. In a report for Firstpost, journalist Anna M. M. Vetticad revealed that the film was rejected by the artistic director of the festival, Deepika Suseelan, who said: "There are actually so many films dealing with the same [sic], particularly transgender if we take out, you know there is lesbian, gay, different segments ... For me personally, I liked Paloma more, and for me, Joyland was taking too much time." Vetticad wrote: "It is inexcusable ... for an individual in such a critical position to consider their personal opinion reason enough to reject such a film despite its cultural and socio-political significance; to be unaware of that significance and equally unaware of audience interest in it despite the crowds it has drawn at festivals across the world."[19]

Theatrical release and censorship

[edit]

Joyland was scheduled to be released in Pakistan on 18 November 2022.[20] Despite the censor board having granted the film a censor certificate in August, Pakistan's Ministry of Information & Broadcasting was announced to have banned the film's domestic release in November, citing Pakistan's Motion Picture Ordinance of 1979[21][22] and written complaints about the film. Additionally, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of the Jamaat-e-Islami political party accused the film of being "against Pakistani values", stating that, "Glamourising transgenders in Pakistan, as well as their love affairs, is a direct attack on our beliefs."[23]

The ban was met with harsh criticism, with the hashtag #ReleaseJoyland making rounds on social media.[24] In an Instagram post, director Saim Sadiq wrote that he and his team were "gutted" by the ban and said it was, "absolutely unconstitutional and illegal."[25] Alina Khan, the actress playing the protagonist of the film, said, "There's nothing against Islam and I don't understand how Islam can get endangered by mere films."[26] In a written defense published in Variety, Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who is also an executive producer of the film, stated:[27]

Joyland is not activism posing as art; it doesn't argue for a particular point of view or issue a call to action. The film treats each character with compassion, from the ageing grandfather imposing his will on his family to the young wife who wants more than the men around her are willing to give. It's a film about the ways in which patriarchy hurts everyone — men, women and children. It's a film about the healing powers of female friendship and solidarity. It's a film about the costs of ignoring our own dreams to conform to society around us. Joyland is also a love letter to Pakistan, to its culture, food, fashion and, most of all, its people. How tragic that a film created by and for Pakistanis is now banned from our screens because of claims that it does not "represent our way of life" or "portrays a negative image of our country." The opposite is true — the film reflects reality for millions of ordinary Pakistanis, people who yearn for freedom and fulfilment, people who create moments of joy every day for those they love.

On 16 November 2022, an aide to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told Associated Press that a committee formed to evaluate the film approved its release with minor cuts.[28] The film premiered in Pakistan on its planned release date of 18 November, although several "objectionable erotic" scenes were subjected to censorship.[29][30]

Joyland remains banned in the Punjab province.[31]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

The film received widespread critical acclaim from international critics. It received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival premiere.[32] As per the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of 85 critic reviews are considered positive, with an average rating of 8.2 out of 10, and critics consensus: "With stunning honesty that's achingly bittersweet, Joyland tackles gender and sexual fluidity in a repressed patriarchal society with wisps of hopefulness."[33] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 82 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[34]

India

[edit]

Upon the film's premiere in India, Anna M. M. Vetticad wrote on Firstpost: "In these divisive times, it is worth pondering over the many commonalities between our two countries – our failings included – as are reflected in this wonderfully sensitive chronicle of friendship and love, longing and loneliness, sexuality, desire, enforced gender roles, and the everydayness behind which prejudice, repression and oppression thrive." Vetticad added that, "In contrast to the cacophony of tyranny and persecution accompanying Haider, Mumtaz and Biba's journey, the film [...] runs as smoothly as a symphony in motion."[35]

Siddhant Adlakha of IndieWire gave the film a grade of "B+", writing, "The frame moves slowly, if at all, but it always brims with physical and emotional energy; there’s always something in the ether, whether embodied by dazzling displays of light as characters move across stages and club floors or by breathtaking silences."[36]

In National Herald, Namrata Joshi wrote that the film has been crafted on the "power of the implicit". Joshi praised the "virtuoso cast", writing, "each character, irrespective of her or his length of stay on screen, is imbued with a rare completeness, and brought alive by meticulous, effortless performance". Concluding her review, she stated, "Joyland begins with a birth, a sense of hope and possibility but leaves one with a tremendous sense of loss." Next she brought out the pathos of the film writing, "The circle of life is communicated with tenderness and poise by Sadiq that makes it doubly poignant."[37]

Film critic Anupama Chopra praised the performances of the film's cast, writing, "The actors - Ali Junejo, Salmaan Peerzada, Sarwat Gilani, Sania Saeed, and Alina Khan - deliver emotionally resonant performances." Chopra concluded, "With poetry and abiding melancholy, Joyland creates a poignant portrait of a splintered family". Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express found Joyland "heartwarming".[38]

International

[edit]

Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter called Joyland a "family saga, one that [the director] Sadiq uses to observe how gender norms constrict, and then asphyxiate, individuals". Gyarkye concluded that the film is "an aching consideration of gender and sexuality."[39]

Deadline Hollywood's Anna Smith opined that the film "has a vivid sense of place, created not so much by its geographical backdrop as its characters", and wrote that it "remains a thoughtful, well performed and engrossing drama set in a culture that's shifting, and not always with ease."[40]

Allan Hunter of Screen Daily wrote, "Sadiq's screenplay navigates a complex web of secrets and lies, pressures and prejudices to create a soulful human drama intent on challenging narrow minds." Arguing that the film offers "no real villains here beyond a society that imposes rigid expectations on individuals and genders", Hunter writes that "liberation carries a hefty price in Joyland, especially for the women," further adding that "Sadiq's engaging, thought-provoking film is fully aware of the sacrifices made and the struggles that still lie ahead."[41]

Film critic Jason Gorber, reviewing at the film at Cannes festival, wrote, "Expect this to be an absolute breakthrough from this year's Cannes 2022 with enormous international attention." Gorber called the film "profound and powerful", and one that "upends all expectation of cinema from that often closed culture, one that brashly looks at love, family, longing in its myriad forms.[42]

Variety's Guy Lodge found the film "tartly funny and plungingly sad in equal measure," and opined that, "as a tale of transgender desire in a Muslim country, its very premise makes it a boundary-breaker." Appreciating the director, Lodge wrote, "Sadiq's debut impresses with its sensitive storytelling and vibrant visuals."[43]

Ryan Leston of /Film gave the film a score of seven out of 10, praising Sadiq's direction and calling it "a wonderful film about longing and desire with a melancholy undertone that you just don't expect."[44]

Davide Abbatescianni of The New Arab wrote that Joyland "deserves wide praise, especially considering the troubled socio-cultural context in which it was shot." Moreover, he wrote, "it prompts important questions about chasing dreams and discovering our true selves."[45]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Asia Pacific Screen Awards 11 November 2022 Young Cinema Award Saim Sadiq Won [46]
Asian Film Awards 12 March 2023 Best New Director Nominated [47]
Cannes Film Festival 27 May 2022 Un Certain Regard Award Nominated [48]
Caméra d'Or Nominated
Un Certain Regard Jury Prize Won [6]
Queer Palm Won [49]
Cleveland International Film Festival 1 April 2023 New Direction Award Joyland Won [50]
Independent Spirit Awards 4 March 2023 Best International Film Won [51]
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 16 August 2022 Best Film From The Subcontinent Won [52]
London Film Festival 16 October 2022 Sutherland Award Nominated [53][54]
Sutherland Award Honourable Mention Won
Lux Style Awards 6 October 2023 Best Film (Viewers' Choice) Nominated [55]
Best Film (Critics' Choice) Nominated
Best Film Actor of the Year Female Alina Khan Nominated
Best Film Director of the Year Saim Sadiq Nominated
Palm Springs International Film Festival 16 January 2023 Best International Feature Film Joyland Nominated [56]
Best Actor in a International Feature Film Ali Junejo Won
GLAAD Media Awards 14 March 2024 Outstanding Film – Limited Release Joyland Nominated [57]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Joyland (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Joyland (2022)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Joyland (2022)". The Numbers. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b Barraclough, Leo (11 May 2022). "Cannes' Un Certain Regard Title 'Joyland' Swooped on by Condor in France (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  5. ^ Scott Roxborough (14 April 2022). "David Cronenberg, Park Chan-wook, Kelly Reichardt Set for Cannes Competition". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b Christian Zilko (27 May 2022). "Cannes Un Certain Regard Winners: 'The Worst Ones' and 'Joyland' Take Top Prizes". IndieWire. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Pakistani trans drama 'Joyland' wins 'Queer Palm' as Cannes film festival accused of 'cold-shouldering' the LGBTIQ+ award". SBS. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  8. ^ "'Joyland' is Pakistan's entry for Oscars 2023". The Express Tribune. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Joyland becomes Pakistan's first film to make it to the Oscar shortlist". Dawn Images. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  10. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (21 May 2022). "Cannes Title 'Joyland' Celebrates Pakistan's Transgender Culture". Variety. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Pakistan's first Cannes film a 'dream come true'". Arab News. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Pakistani film 'Joyland' receives standing ovation at Cannes". The Times of India. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  13. ^ Ramachandran, Naman; Frater, Patrick (21 April 2022). "'Joyland' Cannes Film From Pakistan Picked up by Film Constellation, WME". Variety. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  14. ^ Welk, Brian (28 July 2022). ""TIFF 2022 Lineup: Films From Tyler Perry, Peter Farrelly, Sam Mendes and Catherine Hardwicke to Premiere"". TheWrap. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Toronto International Film Festival; Special presentations: Joyland". Toronto International Film Festival. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Joyland". Busan International Film Festival. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Cinema International: Joyland". Kolkata International Film Festival. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  18. ^ Patten, Dominic; D'Alessandro, Anthony (7 December 2022). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors, More". Deadline. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  19. ^ "IFFK rejected Pakistan's Joyland – I didn't know people were 'so dying to see it', says Kerala fest's artistic director". Firstpost. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  20. ^ Narang, Gaurvi (6 October 2022). "Pakistan's Oscar entry has Malala backing but fate of transgender Act tells a different story". The Print. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  21. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (13 November 2022). "Pakistan Bans Oscar Contender 'Joyland' for its 'Repugnant' Material". Variety. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  22. ^ Ebrahim, Zofeen (15 November 2022). "'It's not against Islam': Pakistani trans actor tells of deep sadness over film ban". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  23. ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (14 November 2022). "Joyland: Pakistan bans Oscar contender film about trans love affair". Guardian. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Pakistan blocks national release of 'Joyland,' a story of sexual liberation". CNN. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Saim Sadiq director 'Joyland' responds to Ministry's decision of imposing a ban on his film". The News.
  26. ^ Ebrahim, Zofeen T. (15 November 2022). "'It's not against Islam': Pakistani trans actor tells of deep sadness over film ban". The Guardian.
  27. ^ "Malala Speaks Out on Pakistan's 'Joyland' Ban: 'Too Often In My Country, We Expect Art to Serve as Public Relations' (Exclusive)". Variety. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  28. ^ "Aide: With few cuts, Pakistan lifts ban on Oscar-entry movie". Associated Press. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  29. ^ "What to Know About Pakistan's Controversial Transgender Romance Film". Smithsonian. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  30. ^ "Film depicting transgender love affair to be screened in Pakistan". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  31. ^ "Ban on Joyland: LHC directs information secy to decide matter within 15 days". Dawn. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Here's what the international press has to say about Pakistani film Joyland". Images Dawn. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  33. ^ "Joyland". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 15 September 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  34. ^ "Joyland Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  35. ^ Vetticad, A.M.M. (5 November 2022). "Joyland movie review: Beautifully told tale of soul-crushing patriarchy and LGBTphobia in Lahore". Firstpost. Entertainment News. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  36. ^ Adlakha, Siddhant (23 May 2022). "Joyland review: A daring queer Pakistani drama about desire". IndieWire. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  37. ^ Joshi, Namrata (25 May 2022). "Joyland review: Pushing the envelope". National Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  38. ^ Gupta, Shubhra (25 May 2022). "Cannes 2022: Splendid reception for India's All that Breathes, Pakistan's Joyland". The Indian Express. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  39. ^ Gyarkye, Lovia (23 May 2022). "Joyland: Film review - Cannes 2022". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  40. ^ Smith, Anna (23 May 2022). "Cannes review: Saim Sadiq's Joyland". Deadline. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  41. ^ Hunter, Allan (23 May 2022). "Joyland: Cannes review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  42. ^ Gorber, Jason (23 May 2022). "Cannes 2022: Joyland review". That Shelf. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  43. ^ Lodge, Guy (10 June 2022). "Joyland review: Unexpected trans-cis romance blossoms in a luminous Pakistani crowd-pleaser". Variety. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  44. ^ Leston, Ryan (31 May 2022). "Joyland review: A longing examination of gender and sexuality [Cannes]". Slash Film. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  45. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (8 July 2022). "Joyland: A queer Pakistani dramedy about human fragility". The New Arab. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  46. ^ Frater, Patrick (12 October 2022). "Kamila Andini's 'Before Now and Then' Heads APSA Award Nominations, New Zealand's 'Muru' Collects Diversity Prize". Variety. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  47. ^ Ntim, Zac (6 January 2023). "Asian Film Awards: Decision to Leave And Drive My Car Lead Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  48. ^ "The films of the Official Selection 2022 - Festival de Cannes". festival-cannes.com. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  49. ^ "Pakistani trans drama wins Cannes 'Queer Palm' award". France 24. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  50. ^ "Awards & Competitions | CIFF 47". CIFF. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  51. ^ Tham, Su Fang (4 March 2023). "Here are the Winners of the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards!". Film Independent. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  52. ^ Arora, Sumit (16 August 2022). "Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) Awards 2022 announced". Adda247. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  53. ^ "Full programme announced for 66th BFI London Film Festival". BFI. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  54. ^ Ntim, Zac (16 October 2022). "London Film Festival Winners: Vicky Krieps-Starrer 'Corsage' Takes Best Film Award". Deadline. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  55. ^ "Lux Style Awards 2023 nominations out now: Pasoori, Joyland, Mere Humsafar reign supreme". The Express Tribune. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  56. ^ Haring, Bruce (15 January 2023). "'Saint Omer' Takes Top Honors At 34th Palm Springs Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  57. ^ Pedersen, Erik (17 January 2024). "GLAAD Media Awards Nominations Revealed". Deadline Hollywood.
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