Buffalo 8 has picked up global rights to “Jujji,” a Pakistani crime thriller directed by Habib Shahzad from a screenplay by Ahmad Umar Ayaz.
BHM Films produced the neo-noir pic in partnership with Yūgen Studios and Lollipop. Buffalo 8 has unveiled a trailer.
The film centers on a pair of detectives hunting a serial murderer in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Muhammad Arsalan plays the killer, with Mustafa Rizvi and Anjum Habibi starring as SI Naveed and Constable Arshad, respectively. The investigation forces both officers to confront their own moral compromises as the boundaries between justice and revenge begin to dissolve.
“‘Jujji’ is not just a film – it’s a statement that Pakistani cinema can take risks and still resonate globally,” Shahzad said. “We wanted to capture the essence of Rawalpindi while making it universally human. It’s a deeply personal journey that became a collective one for our team – and we hope, for audiences everywhere.”
The project took two years to develop, originating as an independent effort to spotlight Rawalpindi’s stories internationally. “Jujji” won the top prize at the Gandhara Independent Film Festival 2024 and claimed best feature at the Punjab Police Film Festival 2024. The film also screened at the Divvy Film Festival 2024.
Nikki Stier Justice, Buffalo 8’s head of distribution, called the acquisition a significant pickup for the company. “From the first screening, Jujji stood out as a bold, genre-defying thriller that merges authentic South Asian storytelling with the universal appeal of true-crime cinema,” she said. “It’s the kind of film that challenges conventions while signaling the exciting global evolution of independent filmmaking.”
Buffalo 8, based in Santa Monica, handles production, post-production, financing and distribution for independent films.
Yūgen Studios and BHM Films develop projects across film, theater and digital platforms, with a focus on South Asian narratives and emerging filmmakers.
The film launches on demand Nov. 21 in the U.S. and U.K. via Amazon and Verizon Fios/Vubiquity, with additional territories to be announced.
Watch the trailer here:
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