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2022 marks the year of Pakistan’s diamond jubilee. And as we celebrate 75 years of Independence, the National Amateur Short Film Festival (NASFF) is back and this time the platform is all set to go grand with a much bigger and better return.

Film festivals are the best tools to promote a country’s cultural richness. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOI&B), in collaboration with ISPR, are all set to tap into this potential of films with NASFF's theme of the year which is 'Ocean to Mountains'.

As simple as it sounds, the objective of the theme is very intriguing. The intent is to encourage aspiring filmmakers to participate and project the potential of tourism in our country.

Films, as observed by many critiques, are the best way to present the indigenous colors of a nation. It is a medium that cuts across borders and represents the true experience of a country to the world.

Last year, under the theme 'Re-imagining Pakistan: Aligning Perceptions with Reality', NASFF's short films successfully presented a progressive image of Pakistan which is, unfortunately, not often shown in international media. With NASFF 2022, the films are expected to draw the attention of tourists towards Pakistan.

As a first of its kind film festival, NASFF has already made history on more than one grounds: it is the only film festival in Pakistan that is supported by the state. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan also attended the NASFF award ceremony that took place in July 2021.

The exciting closing ceremony, in honor of the winners of NASFF 2021 and their families, was attended by DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry amongst other dignitaries. Their esteemed presence is encouraging for the youth, but most importantly it reaffirms that the festival isn’t a one-off event.

NASFF, at its heart, has two major goals to achieve this year: involve amateur and aspiring filmmakers who bring to the platform a host of creative ideas and showcase the unique geography of Pakistan, which is a legacy not many countries can rival.

Become a part of the change Pakistan needs

The film festival was a roaring success last year and proved that it is a great platform to invest.

This year, celebs like Maya Ali, Hareem Farooq, Bilal Ashraf and Ahmed Ali Akbar have also joined in as NASFF brand ambassadors amongst other renowned names from the industry.

For the platform, the support from celebs does not just bring glamour to the table, it comes with the additional benefit to give participants a very hands-on and grassroot level perspective.

Just like these celebrities, sponsors at NASFF are expected to actively promote the philosophy of the initiative: to invest in these high achievers to introduce the real Pakistani experience to the world.

Why invest in NASFF 2022?

NASFF 2021 had only one sponsor; AFINITI Software Solutions (Private) Limited, who trusted in the cause and sponsored a year-long diploma at the New York Film Academy, Australia (NYFA) for the first batch of 14 high achievers.

This year, the sponsorship package provides an array of opportunities for any brand to maximise their engagement in this flagship project.

Get a chance to place your brand’s logo alongwith NASFF’s on all equipment presented to the participants. All marketing campaigns of the fest will carry the sponsor’s logo and MOI&B will also acknowledge the brand in media.

Special seats will also be reserved in all NASFF events including the grand finale. All the talented NASFF high achievers are selected at the national level. The sponsoring organisation has the first right to employ the participant as part of their audio-visual team on return from NYFA, Australia.

Submissions are open

Registrations have set new benchmarks this year as well and the last date for short film submission has been extended to July 15, 2022.

There are four award categories: film awards consist of Best Undergraduate Film (6 awards), Best Mobile Film (3 awards), Best Special Category Film (6 awards), Skill Set Awards include Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Direction, Best Research.

There is a Jury’s Appreciation Award for the youngest filmmaker. But the highlight of NASFF are its scholarships: 5 (five) high achievers of the competition will be awarded scholarships for advance studies in top rated film schools of the world.

After sending 14 students to the NYFA, Australia after the first edition, the organisers are fully devoted to this project. NASFF deserves the recognition and support more now as it has been established as a platform that has created a win-win situation for our media landscape.

Participants have the opportunity to connect with a wide array of industry experts, making the film festival an unparalleled experience at the forefront of discovery, creativity, and innovation. The local industry in return gets young and creative individuals, who are formally trained.

For more details, visit: https://ispr.gov.pk/NASFF.

This content is a paid advertisement by National Amateur Short Film Festival (NASFF) and is not associated with or necessarily reflective of the views of Images or Dawn.com.