‘Are you Listening?’ wins big at Dili International Film Festival
A Pakistani public service announcement has made it big at the Dili International Film Festival (DIFF), nabbing the award for the Best PSA of the year.
Directed by Samad Baloch, Are You Listening features a bunch children being molested by either their relatives or peers, with the world around them failing to notice or even acknowledge their screams or altered behaviour.
The fact that it does so without using violent imagery, or even reenacting the crime altogether – is what catches the attention of the viewer. Added by the fact that the clip remains silent until the truth is revealed is what evokes all the emotions at the end.
"Are You listening unmutes the muted screams of the victims of child molestation and urges the guardians of these children to keep an eye out for the predator, who is most likely to be someone close to the child,” the PSA’s director of photography Asir Ahmed Khan tells The Express Tribune.
According to Khan, aside from winning at DIFF, the PSA has also been selected to screen at four international film festivals.
“It’s an honour to announce that our PSA Are you Listening? has won the award for Best PSA at the Dili International Film Festival, Timor-Leste. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for reaching a global audience and impressing the Jury Panel,” shared Baloch on Instagram.
Pari of Pokhara, another film that Khan did the cinematography for, was recently screened at the 11th Edition of SOHO International Film Festival in New York on October 18. It has also been selected to premiere at five other international film festivals including in Italy, Nepal and India.
“Pari of Pokhara highlights the issue of human trafficking that women in Nepal and around the world usually face,” Khan added. The film was directed by Babar Ali.
Watch Are You Listening here: