Pakistani films draw full houses at NY festival

The second edition of Pakistan film festival is proving to be a double delight for art lovers. The audience not only watched some of the exciting new movies on the first day Saturday but also had opportunity to listen to top stars who have converged on New York.

The appearance of stars including Mahira Khan, Mikaal Zulfikar, Mehwish Hayat and Aamina Sheikh thrilled the audience at the opening ceremony.

Movies including 7 Din Mohabat In, Parchi, Verna and Cake drew packed houses.

On Sunday Na Band Na Baraati, Punjab Nahi Jaongi, and Lala Begum will be shown.

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said the Pakistani films speak about the country’s energy and dynamism.

“We have organized our film festival to both acknowledge the remarkable revival of Pakistan’s cinema and to showcase and celebrate it,” the Pakistani envoy told a large and enthusiastic audience in the spacious hall of Asia Society.

The Pakistan Mission to the United Nations is organizing the festival,  as it did in 2016.

After years of decline Pakistani film industry is showing signs of promise with emergence of new artists, singers and directors.

“This revival has been spearheaded by a new wave of young filmmakers and actors; they have produced a devise array of movies that have been pushing the boundaries and charting and breaking new ground by tackling bold themes and using digital technology,” noted Ambassador Lodhi. 

She hoped that the celebration of films from Pakistan will “convey the energy, dynamism and optimism that define today’s Pakistan,”

The festival will conclude with the performance of  Zeb Bangash,  and her band Sandaraa.  Zeb is part of the first generation of Pakistani musicians to have established themselves internationally.