9:11 am takes budding film-maker to Cannes

Faraz Waqar hopes to capitalise on the power of cinema to make or break the image of a person, culture or country. PHOTO: FILE

“My graduation thesis film 9:11 am was submitted to a select list of international film festivals and I am very happy to say that it has been selected for its world premiere at the Festival de Cannes 2012 Short Films Corner,” he confirmed.

Waqar considers Shoaib Mansoor — the mastermind behind films like Khuda Ke Liye and Bol — his main inspiration and adds that studying film and working in the industry has always been a dream. “Reviving the film industry in my own country and making films addressing the various social and political issues facing the Middle East and South Asia has always been my goal,” says Waqar.

However, the pressure for financial success and lack of support from his family forced Waqar to study Business Management instead of film-making. He spent 12 years working in the corporate world as a banker in the Middle East but never let his dream of becoming a film-maker die. “After achieving a fair degree of success in my business career and achieving financial independence, I was in a position to finally pursue my dream and passion.”

When asked about his perspective on screenings at film festivals, Waqar said, “Recognition at quality film festivals adds a lot of credibility to a new film-maker’s profile. It gives one confidence. Recognition at a major festival immediately brings you into the spotlight, especially in a market where film-making is still in a nascent stage.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2012.