60 Second Film Festival held in capital

The event also includes over-arching panel discussions, talks, interactive activities, and screening of films

Films by aspiring filmmakers from across the globe were showcased at the recently concluded fifth 60 Second International Film Festival (60SIFF) in the capital.

The two-day event, held at the Aiwan-e-Quaid in F-9 Park, also included over-arching panel discussions, talks, interactive activities, and screening of films.

The theme for this year’s festival focused on celebrating the colours of your country, part of an effort to recognise and celebrate local heroes, historical landmarks, education and interfaith harmony, ‘Dil Say Pakistan’.

The film competition was also held on the theme of unsung heroes and a large number of films were submitted by budding filmmakers from all over Pakistan.

On the first day, photographer Danial Shah shared his experiences of travelling through Pakistan and highlighted the significance of expressing stories with a personal touch. A panel discussion on Dil Say Pakistan (Pakistan’s first transmedia campaign) was also held.

On the second day, short films from 100 Second Film Festival and Izhar by Film Fellowship were screened.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion on the aesthetic aspects of design and film. In a second session, Sameer Khan (Social Champ) and Aarish Khan (Surfsafe) talked about digital storytelling and dissemination of digital content from a legal perspective.

Pakistan’s first online TV schedule, Talkback, was also launched at the festival.

“Every year, we try to engage the masses in a constructive activity of storytelling and filmmaking, to build discourses based on thematic films of 60 seconds, which have eminent value in promoting the culture, art and most importantly, global ties,” said Festival Director Abrarul Hassan.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2017.