Moor selected as Pakistan's submission to Oscars 2016
Oscar fever officially kicks off in Pakistan as the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee has announced Moor as its selection for submission to the Foreign Language Film Award category at the 88th Academy Awards next year.
Directed by Jami, Moor is a drama film that follows the tragic story of a poor train station master and his son after the sudden demise of his wife. The story is set against the decline of the railways system in Balochistan.
According to a press release, Moor was the majority choice of the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee, which was chaired by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
"Moor pushes the boundaries of cinema in Pakistan," she said of the film, "A visual treat, the film reminds us of the history of a land we too often ignore."
The Committee this year included Coke Studio founder Rohail Hyatt, designer Maheen Khan, actor Aamina Sheikh, filmmaker/director Satish Anand, actor Faran Tahir, actor Alyy Khan, director Afia Nathaniel, film producer Mazhar Zaidi and writer Daniyal Mueenuddin.
About Moor's selection, Jami said, "Journey itself becomes our destination and with this submission to Oscars our destination is beyond hope now as we now know that our stepping stone was in the right direction."
This is the third submission of Pakistan to the Oscars since the reinstitution of the practice in 2013. Pakistan sent Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi's Zinda Bhaag and Afia Nathaniel's Dukhtar in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
The Oscar submissions will be longlisted by January 8. 2016 and the final list of nominees will be released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on January 14, 2016. The 88th Academy Awards will take place on 28th February 2016.
