Photo: https://www.instagram.com/jawadshariffilms/
KARACHI: Pakistani cinema has been struggling to make a strong mark ever since the revival over a decade ago. It has had its ups and downs owing to several reasons. The past year was not a very good one and it just got worse this year due to Covid-19. However, there are multiple creatives who have proven their mettle despite the limitations. These are the people who have managed to offer good content and have also represented local cinema internationally. A few of those Pakistani filmmakers are coming together for a panel discussion that will be live this evening, on New York Film Academy – Los Angeles, California Facebook page.
Jawad Sharif, an independent filmmaker who made waves with Indus Blues, is one of the panellists. He shared the news on his Instagram handle earlier today. He will be sharing the spot with Fizza Ali Meerza, Asim Abbas and Qazi Fazli Azeem, Assistant Professor of Design at SZABIST.
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The discussion called ‘Filmmakers Talk’ is taking place as part of International Education Week 2020 for New York Film Academy – College of Visual and Performing Arts. It is scheduled to take place at 5:00 pm this evening, on Facebook Live.
Speaking about the talk exclusively to Cutacut, Jawad Sharif informed, “It is a talk about challenges and prospects in Pakistani cinema. What challenges we, as filmmakers, face -whether it is about independent narrative or censorship, storytelling or even resources and financials. I’m participating in the talk in a different scope, as an independent storyteller as opposed to Asim Abbasi (Churails) and Fizza Ali Meerza.”
“I’ve made documentaries and took them to a commercial level as they made it to the international film circuit,” he furthered. “Without any local government or industry support, how does one initiate independent projects and take them ahead.”
He also added that the talk is for emerging filmmakers, who can learn from the discussion. “It seems like it is going to be a good session,” he concluded.
