'In Flames' fizzles out of Oscars 2024 race

The anticipation surrounding the 96th Oscars ceremony has surged with the recent announcement of the shortlists in 10 categories by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. As per Variety, Greta Gerwig’s inventive meta-comedy Barbie emerged as the frontrunner, securing five mentions across multiple categories, including sound, original song submissions from notable artists like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson, and Andrew Wyatt, as well as an original score from the latter duo.

Furthermore, Variety reported that the international feature category witnessed some expected contenders making the cut, albeit with minimal surprises. Notable entries such as the U.K.’s The Zone of Interest and Spain’s Society of the Snow maintained their positions. However, the absence of two notable entries, Romania’s Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World and Chile’s The Settlers, did not go unnoticed. Most notably, Pakistan's official entry, In Flames, failed to secure a spot in the shortlist.

The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee (PASC) determined Pakistan’s official submission for Oscar consideration. The chosen film to represent Pakistan was director Zarrar Kahn and producer Anam Abbas’s chilling horror feature. The offering, which premiered at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight, is set in Karachi and unfolds a haunting tale. Following the demise of their family head, a mother and daughter grapple with disrupted lives, tormented by both tangible and spectral entities. Their bond becomes their sole solace against the ominous forces encircling them.

Anam Abbas served as the producer alongside executive producers Shant Joshi, Todd Brown, and Maxime Cottray. The film earned a place in XYZ’s New Visions lineup, marking their association with the project in the preceding year.

Mohammed Ali Naqvi, Chairperson of PASC, previously expressed immense pride in selecting In Flames as Pakistan's official entry for the International Feature category at the 96th Academy Awards. Naqvi emphasised the film's brilliance and its significance in highlighting the evolving narrative of Pakistani cinema on the global stage.

Director Zarrar Kahn conveyed his honour at the film's recognition by Pakistan's Oscar committee. Acknowledging the challenges faced during local distribution in Pakistan, Kahn expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response from Pakistani audiences. He emphasised the film's representation, both in its narrative and the resilient team behind its creation.

In Flames has garnered acclaim across several renowned film festivals worldwide, from Cannes to TIFF, Sitges, Busan, and Red Sea, resonating as a poignant call to action. It exposes the brutality of patriarchy while championing the resilience of communities, offering solace to the oppressed and reaffirming the enduring power of hope.

The distinguished 2023 PASC jury, comprising industry luminaries such as Ahmed Ali Akbar, Bilal Lashari, Fatima Bhutto, Fawad Khan, Frieha Altaf, Haya Fatima Iqbal, Madeeha Syed, Mehreen Jabbar, Nadia Afgan, and Saim Sadiq, meticulously evaluated the submissions to advocate for Pakistan’s cinematic representation on the global stage. In Flames embodies a captivating narrative and resonates as a powerful testament to Pakistan's burgeoning cinematic prowess, despite its omission from the Oscars' shortlist.

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