Pakistani-Canadian supernatural drama ‘In Flames’ snaps up Canadian award

Director Zarrar Kahn added another feather to his cap as his debut supernatural drama film In Flames picked up the Best First Feature Film Award at the final award show of the Canadian Screen Week on Friday. 

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television celebrated the final award show of Canadian Screen Week 2024 at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto, marking the end of four days that celebrated the achievements of Canadian talent in film, television, and digital media.

In Flames stars Ramesha Nawal, Bakhtawar Mazhar, Adnan Shah Tipu, Mohammad Ali Hashmi, and Omar Javaid, and is a ghost tale set in contemporary Karachi. Revolving around the death of the family patriarch and its catastrophic impact on a mother and daughter, the film explores themes of loss, oppression and vulnerability. Together, the mother and daughter duo must find strength in each other if they are to overcome the evil forces that threaten to overpower them.  

This is not the first time the Pakistani-Canadian supernatural drama has received critical acclaim. In Flames had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year in May 2023, where it competed for the Camera d’Or. Following on from Cannes, In Flames enjoyed a North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. With 2023 proving to be a successful year, In Flames won the Best Movie Award at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah in December. 

At the Canadian Screen Awards, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television Tammy Frick paid tribute to the winners of this year’s competition by saying, “Your commitment to excellence is not only recognised but celebrated as the cornerstone of our industry's success.” Other award-winning works included drama series Little Bird, sitcom Children Ruin Everything, and comedy series Bria Mack Gets A Life. 

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