The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has selected the Pakistani short film Permanent Guest (Mustaqil Mehmaan) for its world premiere this year. The film is directed by Sana Jafri, who is also credited as its writer.
The story is set in Lahore and follows Fatin, a 26-year-old preparing for a neighbourhood wedding with her mother, Yasmeen. Their preparations are disrupted by the sudden arrival of Fatin’s uncle, Shabeer. His presence stirs difficult memories for Fatin, shaping the central conflict of the narrative.
The cast includes Rasti Farooq, Nadia Afgan, Salman Shahid, Ali Tahir, and Hiba-i-Zahra. According to the official description, the film examines the lasting effects of childhood sexual abuse within South Asian households and the silence that often surrounds such experiences.
Jafri has previously worked as a co-producer and casting director for the film Joyland. In describing her new project, she explained that it addresses intergenerational silence within families, where older members often overlook or normalize issues that younger members continue to carry. She said the film attempts to present this silence while also showing how it is challenged.
The project was developed through crowdfunding. Support came from contributors in Pakistan as well as members of the Pakistani diaspora abroad. With no backing from state institutions or large scale investors, the film relied on this funding model to reach completion.
Permanent Guest marks a notable entry for Pakistan at TIFF. The festival, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has previously featured only two Pakistani short films, Darling by Saim Sadiq and Bhai by Zarrar Khan. Jafri becomes the first Pakistani woman to have a short film debut at TIFF.
TIFF is regarded as one of the major film festivals worldwide and frequently serves as a platform for international filmmakers to present their work to global audiences. The selection of Permanent Guest adds to the growing list of Pakistani projects gaining recognition at major festivals in recent years.
Permanent Guest will premiere tomorrow during the festival’s 2025 edition.
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