PNCA to build a national archive for Pakistani films

Although the Pakistani film industry has been in a slump the past few decades, Lollywood certainly had its heydays in the past, some 60 years ago.

Even today, from constant hope of a renaissance to a few films tattled to be the herald of one, the young industry has been desperately trying to make its mark in the world. Keeping this in view, the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA), has decided to launch the National Film Archives, as an effort towards preserving the country’s film heritage for its future generations. Having produced over 6,000 films thus far and averaging 60 feature films each year, Pakistan, despite its slump, is still among the top 20 film-producing nations of the world. However, considering the industry’s golden days were at least six decades ago, much of Lollywood’s glory seems to have been written in sand; bound to wash away with the crashing waves of time. Which is why, the need for introducing a national film archive has become greater today, than ever before. In a bid to establish the film archive,

PNCA has requested prominent Lollywood personalities as well as audiences from all walks of life to secure and donate video copies of films in DVDs, DCPs or any other digital format to the council. In addition to that, members of the film fraternity have also been requested to help collect submissions for the national archive, as well as to submit their short films. According to details, the council has also sought suggestions and consultations with various film industry mavens to discuss the launch of National Film Archives. Highlighting the purpose of the film archive, PNCA members said that films and materials collected as a result of this effort should be used for educational, training and referential purposes.

“This project will be done free of cost and voluntarily, donors will however be given due credits on the occasion of their material’s broadcast or presentation. Other than that, volunteers may also contribute to the archives in the form of posters, press clippings, books, photographs, draft or any film-related material to the council,” notified the Pakistan National Council of Arts.

Securing the future of film

It may be recalled that after the dissolution of National Film Development Corporation (NAFDEC), the responsibility of development and preservation of Pakistani films was handed over to the PNCA. In this regard, PNCA has tried taking various steps for the development of film with its limited resources. One such initiative is the establishment of a national film academy, for which a plot has been acquired in the H-2 sector of Islamabad. In addition to that, PNCA’s Department of Film has also been working on signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Pakistan Film Producers Association, for the repromotion and development of Pakistani films. Moreover, Director General, PNCA Dr Fauzia Saeed, recently launched a one-year film production certificate course for the first time in the country. The course, which is currently being taught online, is conducted by local as well as foreign film experts from Germany and the United States. It is hoped the certificate program will help supplement the local film industry in the long run, through the introduction of more trained filmmakers in the fraternity