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After leaving audiences in Pakistan spellbound, it appears that Manto has already bewitched the writer's fans in the US as the director's cut of the film has been sold out, well ahead of its screening on September 27 in Washington DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF).

Kicking off on September 25, the fourth edition of the annual festival will be held in Washington and will present different South Asian films.

While Sarmad Sultan Khoosat's Manto has already made its name there, two other Pakistani films, namely blockbuster Na Maloom Afraad (NMA) and social activist Jibran Nasir's short film Reclaiming Pakistan focusing on the series of protests following December 16 Peshawar attack, are also being screened at the fest.

The director himself will be present at the fest for a Q&A session after the screening. NMA has been kept as an Eid special and will be shown on the same day as Manto.

Popular films like Margarita With A Straw will also be shown at the festival, which ends on September 27. Workshops on acting and scriptwriting will also follow during the course.

Released countrywide on September 11, Manto is based on the life and stories of the legendary writer.