Third edition of the Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF) Announced

Karachi Film Society (KFS) announces the third edition of the Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF), which will be held from 21st to the 23rd of May, 2021. Following all guidelines and SOPs of the ongoing global pandemic, this year’s programme will pay homage to all the incredible women associated with the Pakistan film industry. The flagstaff Women’s Edition will also celebrate the tremendous achievements of these women and host activities such as film screenings, educational workshops and seminars/webinars with special guests in attendance.

The Pakistan International Film Festival plans to host an engaging, interactive and educational three-day event which will include six female-centric feature films, namely, Parwaaz Hai Junoon, Motorcycle Girl, Load Wedding, Dobara Phir Se, Superstar and Punjab Nahi Jaungi. Additionally, there will be workshops on ‘Fighting Harassment in the Workplace’ by Xenab Ansari, ‘Makeup on Film and Television’ by Turkish makeup artists, Sezen Can and Murat Polat, workshop on ‘Women Entrepreneurs in Creative Economy’ and panel discussions on Pakistan’s film industry. In accordance with the theme, PIFF 2021 is also holding limited attendance seminars/webinars, following the necessary Standard Operating Procedures, on ‘What is Stopping Our Film Growing Internationally?’, ‘Gender Stereotypes in Media’ and ‘Covid-19: Challenges and Opportunities.’

Previously, the inaugural edition of PIFF generated a positive response nationwide, with distinguished foreign guests, mobile film screenings, workshops, insightful panel discussions and much more. With renowned screenwriter Ashwini Malik, teaching students and enthusiasts about the art of scriptwriting, screenplay and film through his workshop, the first PIFF had a wide array of seminars and such activities. Subsequently, 2019’s PIFF Animation followed suit with another successful event. The festival screened animated films both Pakistani and international, inviting keynote speakers such as Studio Ponoc’s Geoffrey Wexler to conduct an innovative workshop on Communicating Culture with Integrity. The second edition not only highlighted the potential of animation in Pakistan it also introduced Usman Riaz’s ‘The Glassworker’, presented by Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animation studio ‘Mano Animation Studios’.

Through KFS, the Pakistan Film Festival aims to become one of the leading film festivals in South Asia, promoting Pakistani cinema and culture by bringing out the country’s young, talented artists, and providing a means to showcase this potential. With the backing of KFS’ partner organizations and the Provincial and Federal Governments, KFS is determined to contribute to the development of Pakistan’s film industry.

PIFF Women’s Edition 2021 is supported by KMC, WCCI, PNCA, PFPA, Azan Films, Mjafferjees, Image, Active Media, Bookitnow.pk, Rinstra, Ladies Fund and Dice Foundation.