Aspiring filmmakers get 60 seconds to strut their stuff

LAHORE: To celebrate the endeavours of aspiring filmmakers across the world, the fifth round of the 60 Second International Film Festival (60SIFF) was held on May 19 and 20 at the University of Punjab and Alhamra Arts Council, respectively.

Organised by Islamabad-based media house Morango Films, the festival aimed to empower the youth and provide them a platform to express themselves.

Morango Films Media and Communication Officer Ayesha Jamal said 60SIFF promotes storytelling through the use of powerful visuals. Out of more than 1,400 films received, 60 were shortlisted for screening at the festival, she added.

“The exchange of ideas through such platforms acts as a medium to conduct discourse sessions among the public. This continuous flow of information stands as a point of education for many,” she said.



Ayesha added they received an overwhelming response in this year’s competition not just from Pakistan but the rest of the world. “We received entries from as many as 55 countries,” she added.

The theme of this year’s festival focused on celebrating the colours of Pakistan. The event shed light on the need to recognise and promote local heroes, historical landmarks culture, education as well as interfaith harmony.

In 2017, the Dil Say Pakistan Film competition was also held to celebrate the ‘unsung Heroes of Pakistan’. The 60 second videos, screened at the Alhamra Hall, paid tribute to Abdul Sattar Edhi, Junaid Jamshed, Amjad Sabri and some award winning social workers from across the country.



The festival’s creative director, Affan Alam, said there were not a lot of people in Pakistan who believed in creating opportunity for youngsters. “We thought of coming up with a platform to enable the youth to share ideas and thoughts. In the fifth year of the festival, we noticed a marked increase in interest,” he said.

According to Affan, the Dil Say Pakistan competition was divided into five major themes. These included culture, drawing inspiration from local heroes, understanding history through global landmarks, learning to respect interfaith harmony and education.

“Unfortunately, recent incidents show that Pakistan is becoming an increasingly violent and extremist society. For that reason, negative and extremist discourses have become a norm in public spaces,” he said.

Therefore, given the situation, there is a need to counter the narrative and come up with progressive ideas in the mainstream,” Affan stressed.

Films screened at the festival included Respect by Kamal Aryal from Nepal, Contrast by Juboraj Shamim from Bangladesh, Off the Road by Wali Sheikh, Abba’s Home by Sarmed Cheema, Labour for Pennies by Aleem Bukhari and many others.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2017.