After successfully organizing ‘The Digital Storytelling Workshop’ for young aspiring filmmakers and a seminar titled ‘The Celebration of Women in Film’ as part of the pre-festival activities in Karachi, Pakistan International Film Festival 2018 (PIFF) will begin on March 29 in Karachi and run till April 1, 2018.
PIFF, under the patronage of Karachi Film Society (KFS), aims to create a unique platform which promotes both Pakistani cinema and filmmakers by showcasing their films to diverse international audiences. The four-day festival will screen features, short films and documentaries from Pakistan and around the world. Some of the films that will be screened during the festival include Cake, which will be screened at the Gala Screening of PIFF on March 29.
Screenings to look out for include documentary feature, Parween Rehman, The Rebel Optimist, which is based on Pakistani architect and urban planner Perween Rahman and her remarkable work for Karachi’s poor.
In films, The Song of Scorpions, featuring actor Irrfan Khan, and touted as a drama about twisted love, revenge and the redemptive power of a song, looks promising.
Mehreen Jabbar’s Lala Begum, set to screen on the March 31, is another film to look out for. Written by Syed Mohammad Ahmed, the film is about two estranged sisters who meet at their family home after 20 years and end up unearthing many skeletons in their closet. With Marina Khan starring in the lead role, Lala Begum will make for a decent watch.
As for PIFF, by bringing international filmmakers and their work to Pakistan, the festival is definitely creating an interactive space for open dialogue and exchange of ideas that is much needed as Pakistani cinema finds its groove again in the post-revival age.