The film festival will become a regular feature starting this year. PHOTO: FILE
It may seem like Pakistani filmmakers only borrow the recipe of mixing item numbers, pretty faces and familiar dialogues hoping to create a box office. However, the Face Film Festival 2015 brings to the limelight, filmmakers who have something authentic to offer.
Five art and indie documentaries and short-films were premiered with the dominant theme of acknowledging the unsung heroes of the society that fight their own unique battles.
Anam Abbas’ Lucky Irani Circus was a haunting view into the lives of Pakistan’s hardest working circus troupe. It showcases child stars and struggling families that suffer heartache and the joys of circus lifestyle.
The most well-received screening of the night was Imran Babur’s Without Shepherds. Simultaneous stories of six bold personalities who steer the dangerous waters of the nation’s crisis in the quest for a better tomorrow. The stories include Imran Khan’s political journey, a Pashtun female journalist’s search for Taliban, an ex-mujahid seeking redemption, a truck driver crossing dangerous territory to feed his family, supermodel Vaneeza Ahmed pushing feminism through fashion and Arieb Azhar — a subversive Sufi musician, who uses music to soften pain. Without Shepherds attempts at breaking the myths created by polarised media depictions of Pakistan by lauding the bravery of its citizens.
Another highlight of the festival was Lara Lee’s K2 and the invisible footmen. The film takes you into the lives of porters who climb onto the world’s highest peak with heavy baggage as means of supporting their extensive families.
Zara Zaman, an architect who was part of the audience said, “I thought K2 and the invisible footmen was amazing, and I hope that in the future, filmmakers will continue to highlight other critical issues.”
Mehnaz Parveen, a manager at FACE, found K2 and the invisible footmen relatable, as she hails from the northern areas and her father was a porter, thus she could relate to the sense of struggle in the film.
Eric Neudel and Alison Gilkey’s Lives Worth Living was showcased next. The film is about the life of disabled people and their struggle for initiating legislation in favour for equal right and opputunities. Although carrying a strong message, it wasn’t as neatly executed as the other films that were screened at the festival.
Karakoram by Nysa was a sweet liaison between Poland and Pakistan. Based in the year 1972, It is a docu-drama revolves around Polish tourists travelling through the Northern areas of Pakistan in a traditional Polish car, Nysa.
The event was organised in collaboration with Bipolar films and will take place every year henceforth.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2015.
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