Zarrar Kahn’s ‘In Flames’ selected for world premiere at Cannes Director’s Fortnight

The horror-thriller film stars Bakhtawar Mazhar, Adnan Shah Tipu and more

One year after Joyland’s historic win at Cannes, the Pakistani film industry is getting close to repeating history once again! Pakistani-Canadian horror thriller In Flames has been selected to be screened at the Director's Fortnight, a prestigious parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival.

The event, which has been overseen by the French Directors Guild since 1969, will be held from May 16 to May 27. This year's selection includes 20 features and 10 shorts, among which In Flames has been chosen.

The film, written and directed by Zarrar Kahn and produced by Anam Abbas and Shant Joshi, features a star-studded cast that includes Mohammad Ali Hashmi, Bakhtawar Mazhar, Omar Javaid, Adnan Shah Tipu, and Ramesha Nawal.

The psychological horror film tells the story of a mother and daughter dealing with real and imaginary figures from their past after the death of their family patriarch. Set in Karachi, it oversees the mother-daughter duo find strength in each other if they are to survive the malevolent forces that threaten to engulf them.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by In Flames (@inflamesmovie)

However, it is pertinent to know that this is not the first time In Flames has received international recognition. It was also the first Pakistani project to be selected at the Berlinale Talent Project Market and was featured at the Frontières Buyers Showcase at Marche du Cannes. Moreover, Kahn’s directorial was awarded the MPA-AFA First Prize Pitch Award at the Busan Film Festival.

The news of In Flames being selected for the Director's Fortnight has sent a wave of hope and pride to the Pakistani film industry. The director and the cast expressed their joy and gratitude for the recognition their film has received on an international level.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Zarrar Kahn (@kahn.zarrar)

"In the surrealist move of 2023, In Flames will be having its world premiere at the 55th edition of Cannes' Directors' Fortnight. This movie was made by the most beautiful group of artists I have had the privilege to work with, and looking back now, it feels like almost like a fever dream. We made this film with sheer determination, and resourcefulness (jugaar) and to bring it into the world in this way is more than I could have hoped for," wrote director-writer Kahn on Instagram.

The Director's Fortnight is known for showcasing innovative, daring, and original films, and the selection of In Flames is a testament to the ever-growing quality and potential of Pakistani cinema.