Pakistan’s Academy Selection Committee has chosen writer-producer-director Afia Nathaniel’s “Daughter” (Dukhtar) as the country’s entry for the foreign-language Oscar race, according to Variety.

“Daughter” is a thriller that follows a woman who was married off when she was 15. She flees her family with her 10-year-old daughter when it emerges that the daughter might suffer the same fate of child marriage. What follows is a chase, with killers hired by their family in hot pursuit, across Pakistan’s mountains down to the metropolis of Lahore. The film stars popular Pakistani actors Mohib Mirza and Samiya Mumtaz.

Geo Films released the film in Pakistan on September 18, thereby qualifying it for foreign-language submission. It premiered at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival earlier this month and will play at the BFI London Film Festival in October.

The committee revealed that the film was the overwhelming favorite among the submissions.

“It’s so overwhelming to hear about this news right after our world premiere at Toronto and during our theatrical release in Pakistan. My deep gratitude to the Pakistan Academy Selection Committee for their support and for our audiences everywhere who have embraced us so warmly,” Nathaniel said.

“Daughter” is a co-production between Pakistan’s Zambeel Films, Norway’s Indie Films and U.S. outfit Mint Prods.