Riz Ahmed’s “Sound of Metal” wins big at Zurich Film Festival

ISLAMABAD: Riz Ahmed starrer “Sound of Metal” took home the top prize at the Zurich International Film Festival which concluded on Oct 6.
Directed by Darius Marder, Sound of Metal tells us the story of Ruben Stone – a drummer played by British Pakistani actor, Ahmed – who is forced to contend with the loss of his ability to hear.
Stone is part of a professional band which comprises his girlfriend, Lou (played by Olivia Cooke).
The film, Marder’s first feature, documents Stone’s journey as he learns to navigate his life with the support of a community with hearing disabilities.
The film premiered earlier this fall at the Toronto International Film Festival, and screened at the 14th Zurich International Film Festival which ran from the end of September through the first week of October where it bagged the top prize in the Best Film category.
Several of his recent interviews have focussed on the film, while working hard to represent marginalized communities in mainstream media.
As one of the most recognizable (from only a handful) of working actors of South Asian descent today and among those who have landed leading roles in major Hollywood productions, Ahmed has often been vocal about the topic.
When the film premiered in Toronto, it was made known that a large number of the actors in the film were from the deaf community.
To prepare for the role, Ahmed not only studied drumming for six months but learned American Sign Language, too.
The film, which was acquired by Amazon Studios, also stars Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff, Mathieu Amalric and Domenico Toledo.