FiLums: Stars hope young talent will transform film industry
Syed Noor and Reema advise aspiring directors as Lums film festival concludes.
LAHORE:
Two of Pakistan’s most famous film industry figures shared their experience with young filmmakers on the third and final day of the fifth annual Lahore University of Management Sciences film festival, or FiLums, and told them it was their job to transform the business in Pakistan,
“Seeing young people working to help the film industry flourish is inspiring,” said director Syed Noor at a workshop on Sunday. “The industry needs such talented minds. They will create big organisations that can transform this amateur film festival into something huge.”
He invited all the participants in the festival to his Paragon Academy of Performing Arts, where he said the students could get access to advanced equipment and learn more about making movies.
The veteran director’s words excited the young participants like Imran Latif from Red-X!, one of the film societies taking part in the festival. “He invited us to get our hands on advanced facilities and machinery so that is a big gesture,” he said
Actor and director Reema Khan told the audience about the challenges she faced in entering the film industry. “People say hurtful things about you and do anything to bring you down, but you should always keep your head high and continue to work no matter what,” she said.
“You can handle problems like the movie budget and other such things when you believe in your work. It’s important to work seriously because the work is what represents you.”
The students were moved when they heard about her struggle to make the film Koi tujh sa kahan. Reema said she had to sell her house and jewellery to make the movie, but it was a success in the end and she made twice as much as she had invested in it.
Earlier, the day began with film screenings. The halls were packed for the workshop as everyone wanted to hear Reema and Syed Noor.
Rafiq Abdul Rehman, convener for FiLums, said the newcomers in the industry needed the help of veterans like those two.
“Reviving cinema will not be possible unless the seniors hold hands with the young people and provide a platform where they can step forward,” he said.
After the workshop, the finalists of the festival were chosen by a jury of Syed Noor, Meera, Javed Sheikh, Ahsan Khan, Tipu Sharif and Zara Sheikh. They later attended the final awards ceremony for the best films and filmmakers at the event.
Several celebrities in attendance at the awards ceremony hailed the efforts of the young movie makers. “After seeing such talent, nobody can complain that there is nothing happening in our film industry,” said actor Seemi Raheal.
“The work was fantastic,” said actor Mohib Mirza. “Now we should focus on marketing our work to a mass audience that will help the industry flourish.” “There should be a cinema for independent documentaries,” said Adil Shaer. “The government should promote the new work. Producers cannot do everything alone. The distributors play a vital role too but in Pakistan they are all promoting foreign films.” Actor Syed Yorguc Tipu Sharif said movies could help present the “real Pakistan” to the outside world. “The first thing is we must understand that being in the film industry is a respectable profession,” he said.
FiLums was organised by the Lums Media and Art Society.
Best in show
A total of eight awards were handed out, four for the best national films and four for the best international films screened at FiLums. The award-winning films are:
National
Best short film — Not to be Too Loud
Best animation — Nature of Girls
Best documentary — Poor Man’s Goat
Best feature length film — Kala Pul.
International
Best short film — Seeding
Best animation — Great Expectations
Best documentary — Moving a Mountain
Best feature length — Decisive Moment
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2011.
Two of Pakistan’s most famous film industry figures shared their experience with young filmmakers on the third and final day of the fifth annual Lahore University of Management Sciences film festival, or FiLums, and told them it was their job to transform the business in Pakistan,
“Seeing young people working to help the film industry flourish is inspiring,” said director Syed Noor at a workshop on Sunday. “The industry needs such talented minds. They will create big organisations that can transform this amateur film festival into something huge.”
He invited all the participants in the festival to his Paragon Academy of Performing Arts, where he said the students could get access to advanced equipment and learn more about making movies.
The veteran director’s words excited the young participants like Imran Latif from Red-X!, one of the film societies taking part in the festival. “He invited us to get our hands on advanced facilities and machinery so that is a big gesture,” he said
Actor and director Reema Khan told the audience about the challenges she faced in entering the film industry. “People say hurtful things about you and do anything to bring you down, but you should always keep your head high and continue to work no matter what,” she said.
“You can handle problems like the movie budget and other such things when you believe in your work. It’s important to work seriously because the work is what represents you.”
The students were moved when they heard about her struggle to make the film Koi tujh sa kahan. Reema said she had to sell her house and jewellery to make the movie, but it was a success in the end and she made twice as much as she had invested in it.
Earlier, the day began with film screenings. The halls were packed for the workshop as everyone wanted to hear Reema and Syed Noor.
Rafiq Abdul Rehman, convener for FiLums, said the newcomers in the industry needed the help of veterans like those two.
“Reviving cinema will not be possible unless the seniors hold hands with the young people and provide a platform where they can step forward,” he said.
After the workshop, the finalists of the festival were chosen by a jury of Syed Noor, Meera, Javed Sheikh, Ahsan Khan, Tipu Sharif and Zara Sheikh. They later attended the final awards ceremony for the best films and filmmakers at the event.
Several celebrities in attendance at the awards ceremony hailed the efforts of the young movie makers. “After seeing such talent, nobody can complain that there is nothing happening in our film industry,” said actor Seemi Raheal.
“The work was fantastic,” said actor Mohib Mirza. “Now we should focus on marketing our work to a mass audience that will help the industry flourish.” “There should be a cinema for independent documentaries,” said Adil Shaer. “The government should promote the new work. Producers cannot do everything alone. The distributors play a vital role too but in Pakistan they are all promoting foreign films.” Actor Syed Yorguc Tipu Sharif said movies could help present the “real Pakistan” to the outside world. “The first thing is we must understand that being in the film industry is a respectable profession,” he said.
FiLums was organised by the Lums Media and Art Society.
Best in show
A total of eight awards were handed out, four for the best national films and four for the best international films screened at FiLums. The award-winning films are:
National
Best short film — Not to be Too Loud
Best animation — Nature of Girls
Best documentary — Poor Man’s Goat
Best feature length film — Kala Pul.
International
Best short film — Seeding
Best animation — Great Expectations
Best documentary — Moving a Mountain
Best feature length — Decisive Moment
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2011.