Onir’s queer film 'We Are Faheem and Karun' garners acclaim at Reelout Queer Film Festival

We Are Faheem and Karun earns big recognition at Reelout Queer Film Festival

• We Are Faheem & Karun wins at Reelout Queer Film Festival 2026
• Sava Javeid wins Best Supporting Performance for his role
• Film is the first queer feature set in politically tense Kashmir

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Onir’s upcoming queer feature We Are Faheem & Karun has struck a chord at the 27th Reelout Queer Film Festival 2026 in Kingston, Ontario.

Kashmiri debut actor Sava Javeid won the Kim Renders Memorial Award for Best Supporting Performance for his heartfelt portrayal in the film, which stood out among 65 narrative and documentary entries from Canada and 15 other countries.

Since its founding in 1999, the ReelOut Queer Film + Video Festival has grown from intimate community screenings into a globally recognised platform for 2SLGBTQ+ stories, showcasing films that are daring, moving, and socially resonant.

Set in the picturesque but politically tense Kashmir Valley, We Are Faheem & Karun tells a quiet yet courageous love story. Karun, a young security guard from southern India, is posted to a remote village where he meets Faheem, a Kashmiri student whose gentle warmth slowly opens Karun’s heart.

As their bond deepens, the pair must navigate the weight of faith, borders, and the rigid masculinity of the institutions around them. It is the first queer feature set in Kashmir, a subtle but radical act of love in the face of inherited prejudice.

Adding further depth to the story is Sana Javeid, who plays Faheem’s mother—a woman who silently accepts her son’s sexuality and quietly strives to protect him. Onir met her while visiting Srinagar, where she runs a heritage homestay.

“Her personality struck me and when I was searching for an actor I reached out to her. Having two sons of the same age as the characters in the film and having loved doing theatre in school she accepted the role,” he said.

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Reflecting on her work, Onir added, “So proud of Sana, while working with her in the first schedule I realised how natural she was and I decided to increase her role in the film.”

Having already travelled to over thirty international festivals and bagged accolades including the Best Director award at the UK Asian Film Festival, Onir is now preparing for a wider release, with the film expected to hit screens around June 2026.