Signature Move
# Signature Move

Signature Move is a 2017 American indie comedy-drama film directed by Jennifer Reeder and co-written and produced by Fawzia Mirza about a Pakistani Muslim lesbian living in Chicago with her mother. Fawzia Mirza also introduced herself as a lesbian on Twitter before the film was announced. The film premiered at the 2017 South by Southwest Film Festival.

## Premise

Zaynab (Fawzia Mirza), a thirty-something Pakistani, Muslim, lesbian in Chicago takes care of her TV-obsessed mother Parveen (Shabana Azmi). As Zaynab falls for Alma (Sari Sanchez), a bold and very bright Mexican woman, she searches for her identity in life, love and wrestling.

## Cast

* Fawzia Mirza as Zaynab
* Shabana Azmi as Parveen
* Sari Sanchez as Alma
* Audrey Francis as Jayde
* Charin Alvarez as Rosa
* Mark Hood as Milo
* Molly Brennan as Killian
* Minita Gandhi as Hina
* Mia Park as Bookstore Customer
* The scholar Kareem Khubchandani has a cameo as a man outside on whom Parveen spies.

## Production

### Casting

Fawzia Mirza approached Shabana Azmi in Chicago when she was there to work in a play. She signed her to play the role in the film. The film features Fawzia Mirza as a Muslim lesbian and Shabana Azmi as her mother. The cast also includes Sari Sanchez, Audrey Francis and Charin Alvarez.

### Filming

Shabana Azmi moved to Chicago in early August 2016. Fawzia posted a selfie with Azmi on Instagram and announced that they have started the shooting of the film.

## Awards

| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2017 | Cleveland International Film Festival | Best American Independent Feature Film | Nominated |
| 2017 | FilmOut San Diego | Audience Award - Best Actress (Fawzia Mirza) | Won |
| 2017 | FilmOut San Diego | Festival Award - Best Director (Jennifer Reeder) | Won |
| 2017 | Iris Prize Festival | Best Actress (Fawzia Mirza) | Won |
| 2017 | L.A. Outfest | Grand Jury Award - Outstanding American Narrative Feature | Won |
| 2017 | Paris Lesbian and Feminist Film Festival | Best Feature Film | Won |
| 2017 | Nashville Film Festival | Bridgestone Narrative Feature Competition | Nominated |
| 2017 | QCinema International Film Festival | Best Picture - RainbowQC Competition | Won |
| 2017 | SXSW Film Festival | SXSW Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award (Jennifer Reeder) | Nominated |
| 2017 | SXSW Film Festival | SXSW Gamechanger Award (Jennifer Reeder) | Nominated |
