The London Pakistani Film Festival returns this October for its second edition
After a star-studded event last year, the second London Pakistani Film Festival is set to take place from October 10 to 12. In a press release, the organising body said the event was “a bold and vibrant celebration of not only Pakistani cinema but the best of world cinema”.
Expanding from last year’s venue, the Rich Mix Cinema, organisers said festivities will also be held at the Genesis Cinema and at the Queen Mary University of London. They looked forward to “presenting a diverse slate of films, from thought-provoking, powerful narratives that traverse language, borders and genres”.
While the full list of selections is yet to be made public, the press release confirmed that Indus Echoes was part of this year’s programme. The film, slated for release in Pakistan on September 12, ends a 28-year drought of Sindhi-language films in the country.
Last year’s selection was extensive and featured several big names. The box office hit The Legend of Maula Jatt started the event off strong with a premiere on the first day while the festival closed with a red carpet premiere of The Martial Artist with the cast in attendance on day three. Films Gunjal, Nayab, London Nahi Jaunga and Teri Meri Kahaniyan were shown alongside an extended director’s cut of Sarmad Khoosat’s controversial yet critically acclaimed Zindagi Tamasha. The first episodes of drama serials Farrar and The Pink Shirt were also screened during the event.
The jury last year included veteran actor Hameed Sheikh, director Mehreen Jabbar, film critic and filmmaker Kamran Jawaid, cinematographer and director Farhan Alam, as well as filmmakers Raaj Rahhi, Max Shaukat, Kay Ram, Mehnaz Alavi Diwan, and Qais Quraishi.
A project of Positive Action Through Creativity (PAC) — a UK registered charity — the festival is founded by Assad Khan and co-founders Mansur Ali, Shoaib Qureshi and Jawaid, who also serves as the festival’s director. The event is a partnership of Cinema Specialists, Moringa Entertainment and Anthem Films.
The festival’s schedule and screenings are to be revealed in the coming weeks on their website. Submissions can be submitted on Film Freeway until August 31.
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