Award-Winning Queer Drama Cactus Pears Set for UK Release with Director Q&A Tour
A powerful new voice in global cinema is arriving in UK cinemas this summer, as Cactus Pears (Sabar Bonda) prepares for its theatrical release on 19 June 2026 across the UK and Ireland.
Written and directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, the internationally acclaimed Marathi-language feature has already made history on the global stage. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, the film became the first Indian fiction feature — and the first Marathi-language film — to win the prestigious World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize.
Presented by Mira Nair and produced by Neeraj Churi and Kaushik Ray, Cactus Pears continues its momentum following a successful international festival run, including a Jury Prize win at the inaugural SXSW London 2025.
Set in rural Maharashtra, the film follows Anand, a Mumbai call-centre worker who returns to his ancestral village after the death of his father. Over a ten-day mourning period, he reconnects with his childhood friend Balya, and what begins as a quiet reunion evolves into a deeply intimate and tender exploration of grief, identity, and queer love within a traditional community.
Ahead of its release, director Kanawade will travel to the UK for a special ten-day Q&A tour, giving audiences the opportunity to engage directly with the filmmaker. The tour will launch on 16 June at BFI Southbank in London, before expanding nationwide.
Speaking on the film’s UK debut, Kanawade described the moment as “full circle,” referencing the project’s early development at the Film London Production Finance Market. He expressed excitement about sharing a deeply personal story with new audiences, emphasising its universal emotional core.
Developed through the Venice Biennale College Cinema programme and supported by multiple international co-production platforms, Cactus Pears stands as a testament to the growing global recognition of queer South Asian storytelling.
With its poetic narrative and heartfelt performances, the film has been widely praised for its authenticity and emotional depth — offering what many critics are calling one of the most tender modern love stories in recent cinema.
Cactus Pears (Sabar Bonda) releases in UK and Ireland cinemas from 19 June 2026.
