NEW YORK – The second edition of the Pakistan Film Festival, organised byPakistan’s Mission to the UN, will take place in New York next month,featuring top stars from the country’s movie industry, according to anofficial announcement.
Several of the latest films from Pakistan will be screened on 7 and 8 Julyat the prestigious Asia Society.The films that will be screened during the festival include, Na Band NaBaraati, Punjab Nahi Jaongi, Cake, Verna, 7 Din Mohabat In, Parchi, andLala Begum.
Oscar award winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy will also participate in thefestival in a special segment titled ‘Beyond the Oscars’, in which she willdiscuss her present and future work as well as challenges faced byPakistan’s film industry. Her animated film, 3 Bahadur was screened duringthe First Film Festival in New York in December 2016.
Among the galaxy of actors and stars who are expected to participate in theFestival are Mahira Khan, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Sheharyar Munawwar, AaminaSheikh, Hareem Farooqi, Zeb Bangesh and Mehwish Hayat.
Apart from these celebrities a number of movie directors and producers willalso attend the Festival, including Mehreen Jabbar and Nadeem Baig.
An enthusiastic advocate of promoting the soft image of Pakistan throughcultural diplomacy, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhiorganized the first-ever Pakistan filmlink> festival in the US in December2016 in New York.
The second Festival is part of her continued efforts to project thecountry’s soft power.
“Pakistan’s movie industry has continued to evolve, having gone through anexciting revival, and we are proud to present another edition of the FilmFestival in the Big Apple,” Ambassador Lodhi said while talking about theupcoming festival.
She said a new generation of film makers in Pakistan have spearheaded therebirth of cinema in the country and are producing incredibly diverse andentertaining films. “They are contributing to the cultural renaissanceunderway in the country which is also reflected in the profusion ofcreative voices found today in Pakistan’s art, music, literature and themedia,” she added.
By showcasing Pakistani movies in the festival, the Pakistan Mission hopesto provide an opportunity to diplomats from 193 countries at the UN to seewhat the country’s entertainment industry is producing.
The festival will be followed by a reception on June 9 at the UnitedNations where Ambassadors, UN officials and media representativesaccredited to the UN will be invited, as well as members of the Pakistanidiaspora.
Since assuming charge as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to UN,Ambassador Lodhi has undertaken several cultural projects and organized aseries of events to promote Pakistan’s soft image and highlight its modernand vibrant culture as well its ancient civilizational roots.
“Cultural diplomacy is a vital part of any diplomat’s job which is aimed atwinning hearts and minds”, Ambassador Lodhi said, adding that Pakistan hasmuch to offer the world in this regard, and our responsibility is to ensurethat this is projected in the international arena.
“All the dynamism and diversity found in our films will be on display inthe movies that will be shown during this Festival,” Ambassador Lodhi said,and hoped that this edition would prove to be as successful as the firstone.