ARRAY Releasing's Donkeyhead, starring Agam Darshi, to be premiered on Netflix on 21 January in US, UK, Australia and New Zealand

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay’s distribution company, ARRAY Releasing, will premiere Agam Darshi’s Donkeyhead (2022) in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand on 21 January on Netflix.

Produced by KarmaFilm, Darshi’s directorial debut will be released theatrically in Canada by levelFILM this spring.

Writer-director Darshi plays Mona, a failed writer, has been largely alone while caring for her ailing Sikh father in Donkeyhead. After he has a debilitating stroke, her successful siblings arrive home to take over, despite her protests.

The film has been produced by Anand Ramayya and Kelly Balon of KarmaFilm as well as Darshi, with Deepa Mehta, Kim Coates, Robert Cuffley, Mohanish Mansuri and Vivek Mathur of ABP Studios serving as executive producers.

Coates also stars in the film as Mona’s unhappily married lover (and lawyer) Stephen Lobo, Sandy Sidhu and Huse Madhavji play her more accomplished siblings, while Marvin Ishmael and Balinder Johal play her father and aunt. The feature film was filmed on location in Regina, Saskatchewan.

“We are committed to supporting underrepresented, original voices and so proud to work with Agam on her debut feature!” KarmaFilm's producer Anand Ramayya said in a statement. “Being part of the South Asian diaspora, Donkeyhead resonated with me on so many levels, but I feel the film's true strength is its ability to touch people beyond our community.”

Producer Kelly Balon added, “This story about family dynamics at difficult times from a Punjabi Sikh perspective is exquisitely layered and intersectional. Agam’s sense of humour balanced with intense emotional drama will appeal to audiences across many demographics.”

The production has been financed by Telefilm Canada, Creative Saskatchewan, SaskTel Max Equity, Canada Media Fund, Superchannel, ABP Studios (India), Emerging Films (USA), BC and Federal tax credits.

The English film had its world premiere last December at the 10th annual Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto where it received four awards, including Best Fiction Feature and Best Canadian Feature.