In its third year, the Pakistan International Screen Awards (PISAs) are scheduled to take place on November 22 at Dubai’s Festival Arena. Organisers have released nominations for 22 of the 24 award categories covering film, television, fashion, music and digital content. The PISAs were created to highlight creative excellence across Pakistan’s entertainment industries and to bring popular artists together and celebrate those who have made a mark globally.

The 2025 jury consists of Hassan Choudary, Taimoor Salahuddin (Mooroo), Kamran Jawaid, Maliha Rehman and Sabah Bano Malik, with Aamna Haider Isani as jury manager.

In film, Fawad Khan (not to be confused with actor-producer-musician Fawad Afzal Khan) for Nayaab and Mehwish Hayat for Daghabaaz Dil lead the acting nominations, while the television section includes Fahad Mustafa, Yumna Zaidi and Sajal Aly among its key contenders. In music, popular tracks such as ‘Blockbuster’ and ‘Jhol’ from Coke Studio made the shortlist, while fashion nominations feature designers Faraz Manan and Sania Maskatiya. In digital content, Jannat Mirza, Irfan Junejo and Ken Doll are among the nominees, reflecting the growing influence of online creators in shaping cultural trends.

Hosting the event in Dubai places the ceremony within an international frame, giving Pakistani talent broader visibility. With jury deliberations underway, attention has turned to how this year’s awards will balance recognition between established and emerging names. Public voting and red-carpet events are expected to draw greater audience engagement.

This will be first PISA ceremony since 2021, and questions remain about representation across various categories and how future editions can achieve greater inclusion. For now, the 2025 PISAs offer an opportunity to evaluate Pakistan’s screen and creative industries and to present them to a global audience.

And the nominees are…

Digital Content

TikToker of the Year

Abu Bakar (Baba Che)

Alishbah Anjum

Areeka Haq

Jannat Mirza

Kanwal Aftab

Short-form Video Creator
of the Year

Abul Hassan

Abbas Raza Bukhari

Kashaf Ali

Laiba Khurram

Shahveer Jafry

Long-form Video Creator
of the Year

Abrar Hassan (Wild Lens by Abrar)

Junaid Akram (GanjiSwag)

Muhammad Shiraz (Shiraz Village Vlogs)

Rana Hamza Saif (RHS)

Sajid Rehman (Zalmi)

Lifestyle and Culture Creator
of the Year

Adnan Zafar (Ken Doll)

Irfan Junejo

Romaisa Khan

Waliya Najib

Umar Khan (Ukhano)

Fashion

Bridal Couture - Designer
of the Year

Fahad Hussayn

Faraz Manan

Kamiar Rokni

Nomi Ansari

Rano’s Heirlooms

Luxury Pret - Brand of the Year

Hussain Rehar

Iqbal Hussain

Misha Lakhani

Muse

Sania Maskatiya

Model of the Year

Abeer Asad Khan

Erica Robin

Jaweria Ali

Ghulam Nabi

Sona Rafique

Film

Best Actor - Film

Fawad Khan - Nayaab

Samar Jafri - Na Baligh Afraad

Yasir Hussain - Taxali Gate

Best Actress - Film

Mehwish Hayat - Daghabaaz Dil

Sanam Saeed - Umro Ayyar

Yumna Zaidi - Nayaab

Best Film - Popular

Nayaab

Taxali Gate

Umro Ayyar

Best Film 2024 (Critic’s Choice)

To be announced

Music

Song of the year

‘Blockbuster’ - Faris Shafi x Umair Butt x Gharwi Group

‘Departure Lane’ - Talha Anjum x Umair

‘Jhol’ - Maanu x Annural Khalid

‘Sadqay’ - Aashir Wajahat x Nayel x Nehaal Naseem

‘Tu Hai Kahan’ - Aur x Zayn Malik

Artist of the Year

Abdul Hannan

Annural Khalid

Hasan Raheem

Maanu

Talha Anjum

Breakthrough Artist of 2024 (Critic’s Choice)

To be announced

Television

Best TV Serial

Dunyapur

Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

Khaie

Noor Jahan

Zard Patton Ka Bunn

Best TV Actor - Popular

Bilal Abbas Khan - Ishq Murshid

Fahad Mustafa - Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

Feroze Khan - Akhara

Khushhal Khan - Dunyapur

Sheheryar Munawar – Radd

Best TV Actor - Critic’s Choice

Bilal Abbas Khan - Ishq Murshid

Fahad Mustafa - Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

Faisal Qureshi - Khaie

Noman Ijaz - Bismil

Sohail Ahmed - Standup Girl

Best TV Actress - Popular

Hania Aamir - Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

Mawra Hocane - Jafaa

Ramsha Khan - Dunyapur

Sajal Aly - Zard Patton Ka Bunn

Yumna Zaidi - Gentleman

Best TV Actress - Critic’s Choice

Durefishan Saleem - Khaie

Mawra Hocane - Jafaa

Sajal Aly - Zard Patton Ka Bunn

Saba Hameed - Noor Jahan

Zara Noor Abbas - Standup Girl

Best Actor/Actress in a
Negative Role

Khalid Butt - Khaie

Hareem Farooq - Bismil

Naeema Butt - Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

Manzar Sehbai - Dunyapur

Mohib Mirza - Jafaa

Best Onscreen Couple

Ali Raza & Anmol Baloch - Iqtidar

Bilal Abbas Khan & Durefishan Saleem - Ishq Murshid

Danish Taimoor & Hiba Bukhari - Jaan Nisar

Fahad Mustafa & Hania Aamir - Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

Hamza Sohail & Sajal Aly - Zard Patton Ka Bunn

Best Original Soundtrack

‘Chal Diye Tum Kahan’ by Aur - Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

‘Rabba Yaar Mila De’ by Shahzaman Ali Khan - Bismil

‘Tera Mera Pyar Amar’ by Ahmed Jahanzeb - Ishq Murshid

‘Tere Ishq Mein’ by Shafqat Amanat Ali - Jafaa

‘Tumhari Chup’ by Atif Aslam - Gentleman

Best Writer

Aamir Raza - Breaking News

Farhat Ishtiaq - Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

Mustafa Afridi - Zard Patton Ka Bunn

Saqlain Abbas - Khaie

Zanjabeel Asim Shah - Noor Jehan

Best Director

Badar Mehmood - Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum

Kashif Nisar - Breaking News & Standup Girl

Musaddiq Malek - Noor Jehan

Saife Hassan - Zard Patton Ka Bunn

Wajahat Hussain – Khaie