PM Imran encourages filmmakers to produce 'original content'

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday maintained that speaking English and Western attire did not promote a soft image of the country -- instead it was linked to independence and self-belief.

"The world respects those who respect themselves ... we need to promote Pakistaniyat," he said while addressing the first National Amateur Short Film Festival Awards (NASFF) ceremony held at the Pak-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad.

The premier said the “flawed understanding” of a soft image had come from "enlightened moderation".

He added that people, who lacked self-esteem and had an inferiority complex, were not respected by the world.

"We don't need to look like others to improve our perception. You cannot achieve anything if you have fears of failure," he maintained.

He asked Pakistani filmmakers to focus on original content and adopt new approaches.

He also urged the youth to explore new avenues in different fields of life and try something new instead copying “the trodden path”.

“New starters in the film making must explore the vast variety and rich diversity of climate, culture and civilisation of the motherland.”

The prime minister noted that during 70s, the country was producing quality pictures but it went on to copy Bollywood films which resulted in the downfall of the industry.

“Because of this adoption of alien culture, our film industry lost is originality,” he regretted.

“Vulgarity started from Hollywood, came to Bollywood and then that kind of culture was promoted here… According to my experience of the world, only originality sells — the copy has no value.”

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The prime minister sharing his experiences in his cricket career said they had introduced to the world the technique of reverse swing and opening of bowling with spinners, ideas which were later copied by the whole world.

Previously, he added, there was a mindset that they could not defeat the England cricket team because of the serious impacts of colonialism.

“Things started changing when they [Pakistani players] started believing in themselves and started experimenting with new techniques.”

He further said that he had brought the Turkish drama serial “Ertugrul” to Pakistan that was widely watched by the people in the country.

“That [Ertugrul] has an alternate culture but it is popular and people see it.”

The prime minster said late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who participated in the fund-raising of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, was adorned by the Western pop groups.

Speaking on the occasion, Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said in today's world, there was a contest over opinion making and perceptions in which the media was playing an important role.

“The media is being used effectively for building narratives across the world,” he added.

He said the information ministry was transforming the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Radio Pakistan and PTV into digital platforms in line with the modern requirements of the day.

Fawad said they were trying to bring forward modern media techniques for effectively building the country's narrative abroad.

About the production of short films, the minister said social media content worldwide had multiplied and now the focus had shifted from long-duration films to making of short clips for which the popular social media platforms were effectively used.

He said the country’s first media technology university would be launched on August 14 this year. “It would be formally inaugurated by the prime minister at this building [Pak-China Friendship Centre].

The event was held under the patronage of the information ministry in association with the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) to give awards to three winners each in different categories of short films -- student, professional and mobile phone.

The jury comprises famed artists and international experts who had made nominations for the best films.

Fifteen winners would receive scholarships for studying in advance media techniques in the University of California, US.

The main theme of the festival is to harmonise the general impression about Pakistan with reality.

In November last year, the youth were given six different themes including the cultural and social colours of Pakistan, the role of women in society, Indus Valley Civilisation, regional cultures, philanthropy, agriculture and small-scale industrial activities. A total of 72 universities across the country were contacted to ensure full participation of the youth.

In January this year, over 1,100 young people registered with the event.

As of March 10 this year, more than 300 short films were received. The preliminary jury first shortlisted 122 of them. Then from June 23 to 28, the grand jury shortlisted 55 films after rigorous scrutiny.

(With input from APP)