The gripping short film Don’t Be Late, Myra has officially qualified for the 98th Academy Awards®, marking a milestone in Afia Nathaniel’s return to telling stories from Pakistan after her acclaimed debut feature Dukhtar (Daughter).

Set against the bustling streets of Lahore, the film follows 10-year-old Myra (Innayah Umer), who, after missing her school van, is forced to walk home alone. Navigating harassment and menace on her way, Myra faces a quiet but escalating danger that exposes the vulnerabilities children endure in public spaces. With its urgent pacing and raw emotional undercurrent, Don’t Be Late, Myra is both a survival thriller and an unflinching commentary on the silence surrounding child harassment in Pakistan and beyond.

Deeply personal in its origins, the film draws on Nathaniel’s own childhood experiences and her perspective as a survivor of assault. By transforming trauma into urgent art, she brings visibility to an issue often silenced by patriarchy, sparking essential conversations about children’s safety and the cultural taboos that endanger them.

Since its world premiere, Don’t Be Late, Myra has gained significant recognition across the international festival circuit. The film has been awarded Best Film at the Bergen International Film Festival of NJ, Best Short Film at the Montreal International Film Festival, and the Best Long Short – Tongues on Fire Flame Award at the UK Asian Film Festival, among others. It also earned the Audience Award for Best International Short Film at the WOW Wales One World Film Festival, underscoring the film’s ability to resonate with both juries and audiences worldwide. With additional wins including honors at the Big Apple Film Festival, California Women’s Film Festival, and DC Independent Film Festival, Nathaniel’s work continues to be celebrated for its bold vision and powerful storytelling.

Shot on location in Lahore with a local cast and crew, the film’s authenticity heightens its emotional impact, grounding its urgency in real spaces and lived experience.

Pakistani-American filmmaker Afia Nathaniel has established herself as a bold and uncompromising storyteller. Her debut feature Dukhtar (Toronto, 2014) became Pakistan’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards® and was screened across 20 countries to widespread critical acclaim. She later directed an episode of Chicago Med (NBCU Female Forward), becoming the first Pakistani-American female director hired by a US network studio for a one-hour drama.

With Don’t Be Late, Myra, Nathaniel continues her mission of crafting deeply resonant, socially urgent films that fuse personal storytelling with larger cultural critique. Its entry into the 98th Academy Awards® race highlights not only the resilience of a filmmaker transforming silence into action, but also the power of cinema to confront taboos and inspire change.