Pakistani movie Intezaar is gearing up for a Canadian premiere

Photo: pakistanicinema.net

KARACHI: Industry veteran Sakina Samo directed her first movie, Intezaar (Waiting) that was scheduled to release across Pakistan in March 2020. However, owing to all the uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the film has not seen the light of the day in local cinemas yet. To one’s surprise, and a pleasant one, the film has started getting acclaim in the international festival circuit. The latest addition to the list in the upcoming Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF) scheduled to take place next month. Samo shared the news on her social media earlier this week.

The film will have its Canadian premiere at the festival that will run from December 4 till 12. It will be a virtual event available to audiences in Canada. It is going to be the eighth edition of Canada’s leading film festival. MISAFF 2020 will showcase fiction films, documentaries and shorts from around the world.

“MISAFF takes the liberty of showcasing courageous and ground-breaking films. We welcome audiences from Mississauga and the GTA, and while it is a South Asian film festival, the stories and movies are for everyone irrespective of ethnicity or background,” said Festival Director Arshad Khan. “We are showcasing films that address the human condition but also relate to our lives in so many epic ways. MISAFF is the only film festival in Mississauga and it has built a reputation to showcase the best cinema South Asian filmmakers have on offer from around the world. We stand apart because as filmmakers ourselves we understand the needs of other film professionals. That is why we include opportunities for emerging filmmakers and talent to network with other industry professionals.”

The film features Samina Ahmed, Khalid Ahmad, Kafi Ghaznavi and Raza Ali Abid in prominent roles, in addition to Adnan Jaffer. The film’s trailer released earlier this year, hinting at some amazing performances. Bee Gul has written the script while the music is done by Darvesh.

Last month, Intezaar (Waiting) had its world premiere at the Harlem International Film Festival in New York. Khalid Ahmed won the Best Actor trophy after the film was screened at the festival.