Lahore film fraternity upset over exclusion from Pakistan International Film Festival

Pakistan Film Producers Association expresses concern in meeting with Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair

LAHORE: The Pakistan Film Producers Association (PFPA) has expressed its reservations about the recent Pakistan International Film Festival (PiFF) which was held from April 29 to May 1.

In this connection, a PFPA delegation met with and briefed Governor of Sindh Muhammad Zubair on how Lahore-based films and film-makers were overlooked by PiFF, which was held in Karachi. According to the producers, the festival should be for all of Pakistan and no one should be sidelined.

In retaliation, PFPA members have now announced that they will be holding their own international film festival in the coming months if their complaints are not addressed. They have also demanded PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to support them in this venture.

PFPA’s chairman, film-maker Syed Noor, along with the Pakistan Film Distributions Association (PFDA) chairman Chaudhary Ejaz Kamran and IMGC chairman Amjad Sheikh held a meeting with Zubair to discuss their concerns about PiFF. The governor was informed about senior film producers and directors, as well as the citizens of Lahore who did not receive invitations to the festival.

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An insider from the meeting, seeking anonymity, told The Express Tribune, “After hearing our concerns, the Governor was not happy with the administrators of PiFF, stating that he had no knowledge of this.”

He continued, “Our delegation appreciates the efforts required in arranging an international film festival and has even supported the vision of the Federal and Sindh governments. However, we soon came to know that Lahore had been sidelined and Punjab’s film directors and producers were purposely ignored.”

The delegation demanded PiFF be held in Lahore as well the next time. “We have already written many letters to various offices opposing PiFF. However, nothing has been done yet, which leaves us with no choice but to hold our own mega event in Lahore.”

PHOTO: PUBLICITY

The source also expressed that PFPA believes in unity and wishes everyone the best for the survival of Pakistan’s film industry. “It isn’t fair that some people are limiting the film industry to just one city. I am glad that at least the Governor appreciated Syed Noor and the other officials present in the meeting,” he said. “The meeting was very fruitful and has left us hopeful. It made us believe that we will be listened to. Therefore, we have started the preparations and arrangements to bring the festival to Lahore.”

PFPA was established six decades ago and has played a key role in strengthening the Pakistani film industry. “We have always put in a lot of effort to make Pakistani cinema better. However, now that there seems to be ongoing discrimination, we had no choice but to raise our voice,” said Ejaz. “There are many film directors, producers and technicians residing in Lahore who no one at PiFF has acknowledged.”

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