Exchanging ideas: Anwar Akhtar of Pakistan Calling shares his views on cultural interactions
T2F screens films from the project made by British and Pakistani artists.
Supported by a number of NGOs in Pakistan and the UK’s Royal Society of Arts, films and documentaries can be submitted to the project as a way to integrate Pakistan into the British society while also help promote cross-cultural dialogue. Akhtar, who is currently in Pakistan to promote the project, said that it aims to create a positive picture of the society as well as promote social entrepreneurs who are doing good for the society.
KARACHI:
British-born Anwar Akhtar of Pakistani descent, who is the director of thesamosa.co.uk, hopes to bridge the gap between the two communities he belongs to through the film project, Pakistan Calling.
“I have always been close to Pakistan and I keep asking family members back home about it. I feel that the two communities needed to integrate more and a cultural exchange would be the best way to do so,” said Akhtar, while speaking at an evening of film screenings hosted by The Second Floor (T2F) on Saturday.
Supported by a number of NGOs in Pakistan and the UK’s Royal Society of Arts, films and documentaries can be submitted to the project as a way to integrate Pakistan into the British society while also help promote cross-cultural dialogue. Akhtar, who is currently in Pakistan to promote the project, said that it aims to create a positive picture of the society as well as promote social entrepreneurs who are doing good for the society.
A few of the short films from the project, by British and Pakistani artists, were screened for the audience on Saturday. One peeped into the life of Mumtaz Rafiq, a patient of moderate mental retardation. As the film unfolds, Rafiq is seen praying, watching television and making burgers at a fast food restaurant. The film focuses on how Rafiq, who was once an angry man, was rehabilitated at the Karachi Vocational Training Centre, a place which helps people with mental challenges.
Another film showed an interview of a British journalist Jon Snow who spoke on the western coverage of Pakistan. He accepted that the coverage given to Pakistan usually borders on the negative and that more focus was usually on the natural disasters in the country. A film by Todd Shea, an American who set up relief work in Pakistan after the 2005 earthquake, was also aired.
While in conversation with Akhtar, artist Durriya Kazi supported the film project and said that the project should accept music videos as Pakistani musicians were doing good work and helping in removing misunderstandings among people.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2013.
British-born Anwar Akhtar of Pakistani descent, who is the director of thesamosa.co.uk, hopes to bridge the gap between the two communities he belongs to through the film project, Pakistan Calling.
“I have always been close to Pakistan and I keep asking family members back home about it. I feel that the two communities needed to integrate more and a cultural exchange would be the best way to do so,” said Akhtar, while speaking at an evening of film screenings hosted by The Second Floor (T2F) on Saturday.
Supported by a number of NGOs in Pakistan and the UK’s Royal Society of Arts, films and documentaries can be submitted to the project as a way to integrate Pakistan into the British society while also help promote cross-cultural dialogue. Akhtar, who is currently in Pakistan to promote the project, said that it aims to create a positive picture of the society as well as promote social entrepreneurs who are doing good for the society.
A few of the short films from the project, by British and Pakistani artists, were screened for the audience on Saturday. One peeped into the life of Mumtaz Rafiq, a patient of moderate mental retardation. As the film unfolds, Rafiq is seen praying, watching television and making burgers at a fast food restaurant. The film focuses on how Rafiq, who was once an angry man, was rehabilitated at the Karachi Vocational Training Centre, a place which helps people with mental challenges.
Another film showed an interview of a British journalist Jon Snow who spoke on the western coverage of Pakistan. He accepted that the coverage given to Pakistan usually borders on the negative and that more focus was usually on the natural disasters in the country. A film by Todd Shea, an American who set up relief work in Pakistan after the 2005 earthquake, was also aired.
While in conversation with Akhtar, artist Durriya Kazi supported the film project and said that the project should accept music videos as Pakistani musicians were doing good work and helping in removing misunderstandings among people.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2013.