Partnership Marks Product of Culture’s Official Launch as a Boutique Film Distributor with Acclaimed Festival Favorite by Fawzia Mirza

LOS ANGELES, CA – WILLA and Product of Culture today announced a new co-distribution partnership with the acquisition of the acclaimed debut feature THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS, written and directed by Fawzia Mirza. The film will open theatrically across select U.S. markets beginning June 20, 2025, followed by a release on digital streaming platforms.

The collaboration between the two companies not only brings THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS to American audiences but also marks the formal entry of Product of Culture into film distribution. The two women-led companies are also partnering on an upcoming second title this year, continuing their commitment to releasing bold, culturally resonant, and socially impactful stories.

THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and has since screened at major festivals including SXSW, BFI London, Seattle, Bentonville, and SCAD Savannah, where lead Amrit Kaur received special jury recognition. A Canada-Pakistan co-production shot on location in Karachi, Pakistan and Nova Scotia, Canada, THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS was nominated for 5 Canadian Screen Academy Awards, winning 2, including another best lead performance prize for Kaur. It also won the Directors Guild of Canada’s top prizes for direction and production design, and was named to TIFF’s list of Top 10 Canadian Films.

The film stars Amrit Kaur (The Sex Lives of College Girls) as Azra, a queer South Asian grad student who is at odds with her conservative mother (Nimra Bucha, Polite Society). Following a family tragedy in Pakistan, Azra is launched into a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories real and imagined, from her mother’s youth in 1969 Karachi to her own coming of age in rural Canada.

“When you make a movie intended for the big screen, the dream is to actually get it on big screens across the country with partners who believe in the cinematic experience,” said filmmaker Fawzia Mirza. “WILLA and Product of Culture are those dream partners – two powerhouse, women-owned companies that believe in THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS and know exactly how to bring it to the audiences it was made for.”

“We’re honored to bring THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS to audiences in theaters and beyond, in partnership with Product of Culture,” said Elizabeth Woodward, Founder & CEO of WILLA. “Fawzia Mirza’s debut is a radiant, genre-defying film that speaks to generational identity, diaspora, and queer joy with rare depth and cinematic imagination. This is exactly the kind of bold, emotionally resonant storytelling WILLA wants to champion, and we’re proud to help it find the wide audience it deserves.”

“Bringing THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS to theaters is a defining moment for our team,” said Archana Misra Jain, CEO of Product of Culture. “It’s a story that reflects layers of identity and culture we rarely get to see on screen, especially in such a joyful, cinematic way. Launching our distribution slate with this film, alongside the team at WILLA, is a powerful first step in our mission to champion global stories that deserve to be seen and celebrated. Our partnership exemplifies how a community-forward, tailored release strategy, built for scale, is the future of distribution.”

THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS, a co-production between Shut Up & Colour Pictures and Baby Daal Productions, in association with Spark Features and FlimShow, will be released in select markets across the US on June 20th. The deal with Willa and Product of Culture was brokered by the producers and LevelK, which represents the film for worldwide sales. The film was released theatrically in Canada in 2024 by Cineplex Pictures and is currently streaming in Canada on Crave. Sales were previously announced by LevelK for 20+ territories including the UK (Peccadillo Pictures), Eastern Europe (HBO) and Spain (Syldavia). The film was produced with the support of Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund, Province of Nova Scotia, Screen Nova Scotia, Province of Ontario, Crave, and CBC.

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ABOUT WILLA

WILLA is a production and distribution company led by Founder & CEO Elizabeth Woodward. Focused on socially important films, WILLA pioneers filmmaker-focused and impact-driven release models. Their slate includes Film Independent Spirit Award nominated La Cocina (Berlinale premiere, starring Rooney Mara), Emmy-nominated Another Body (SXSW, co-distributed with Utopia) and You Resemble Me (Venice Film Festival, executive produced by Spike Lee, Spike Jonze, Claire Denis, Riz Ahmed, Alma Har’el). WILLA is a Catalyst Fellow at the Sundance Institute and continues to champion bold, visionary films through innovative and audience-first campaigns.

ABOUT PRODUCT OF CULTURE

Product of Culture is a marketing agency, media platform, and boutique film distributor that is reshaping how stories rooted in culture connect with global audiences, with a strong focus on amplifying South Asian voices and expanding their reach around the world. With over a decade of experience leading award-winning campaigns and pop culture moments, the company bridges storytelling with strategy. As an agency, Product of Culture merges cultural insight, creative strategy, and immersive experiences to help brands connect with deeply rooted communities. As a distributor, Product of Culture offers filmmakers access to authentic audiences, culturally fluent marketing, and a curated path to release – ensuring every story is powered with a 360° approach to success.