FACE 2016: Promoting a pluralistic vision through films

Two-day festival provides an expanding platform for talented filmmakers

ISLAMABAD:

With an aim to rejuvenate and connect with Pakistan’s and the international film industry  and international film industries, Foundation of Arts, Culture and Education (FACE) inaugurated their second movie gala at Pakistan National Council of the Arts on Friday.

The idea behind the two-day festival is to promote a humanistic and pluralistic vision through film, by providing an expanding platform for talented filmmakers of alternative films to reach out to their audiences, as well as to producers and donors.

The event features filmmakers who have come from across the country and the globe to present their films to Islamabad’s audience in-person.

The first day of the festival held screenings, talks and workshops where filmmakers discussed the intricacies of filmmaking and young people benefited from their exposure.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, FACE Film Festival Director Anam Abbas said that this initiative was taken last year to promote films and filmmaking in the country. “We are trying to create a culture of film festivals in Pakistan where the common public can come and question filmmakers and know about their school of thought and ideology behind a certain film,” she said.

She further said that in order for cinema to grow, there has to be a proper community and culture around it and for that film festivals are extremely important. “The idea is to make people watch alternative cinema from across the world to decide what we want our cinema to be because it is facing an identity crisis right now,” she added.

Bosnian Ambassador Nedim Makarevic said that films are a meaningful way to convey an idea. Film festivals make people think and ponder over the issues that have been presented in films.

Screening of three Bosnian short-films titled ‘I am Adnan,’ ‘Whatever will be will be’ and ‘One Way Ticket’ followed the opening remarks.

The ambassador took the stage again along with Arieb Azhar and Zeeja Fazli to perform Bosnian music.

Acclaimed Pakistani film Moor was screened on the first day of the film festival, which was followed by a talk by eminent filmmakers Jami Mehmood and Yasir Jaswal who discussed various challenges of filmmaking in the country. Producer Mazhar Zaidi’s film Zinda Bhaag was also screened followed by a question and answer session.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2016.