In Fawzia Mirza’s triumphant (and timely) debut feature The Queen of My Dreams, Amrit Kaur delivers a remarkable double performance as Azra, a queer Pakistani-Canadian woman navigating grief and self-discovery after the sudden death of her father, and Mariam, her complex mother whose expectations and cultural pressures shape the fraught dynamics between them.

A profound and evocative meditation on identity and family, The Queen of My Dreams flips the script by centering the often-overlooked joy of queer Muslim life. At a time when DEI initiatives are shrinking, and racism and Islamophobia continue to persist amid a tense political climate shaped by Tr*mp’s second presidency, The Queen of My Dreams’ message of love, resilience and representation has never felt more urgent.

With the film now arriving on digital platforms after a long wait – which Kaur describes as a “message from the universe” – the duo discuss the universal themes that connect their characters across generations and why joy is the ultimate act of revolution. They also share behind-the-scenes stories of the “clip-clopping” variety that brought this vital story to life. (It’ll make sense later!)

GT: The Queen of My Dreams is finally being released after two years! How does it feel for you both, knowing that so many more people are going to be able to see this beautiful and important film for the first time?

Fawzia: I’m definitely excited. On this journey, I’ve had to learn a lot. You want to be an artist and stay an artist, but then, I don’t know if you can be a filmmaker in this day and age without knowing the business side of things. So, I’ve learned a lot about distribution and sales, and the process, and the system… The problems in the system. It’s amazing to have this moment, not just any moment, but one we’re sharing with these partners: Willa and Product of Culture, two women-led distribution companies who truly believe in the project, believe in its message and believe in our audience. They know our audience is out there.

Amrit: Everything Fawzia said! I’m learning vicariously through her. Not nearly as much, but every day, it’s like the journey isn’t over. And I’m like, ‘Oh, okay.’

Fawzia: It’s just beginning!