Pakistan achieved a clean sweep at the Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles (IFFLA) as three local entries secured honorary mentions. The selection signals a strong presence for Pakistani cinema on the international circuit.
Sarmad Khoosat’s feature film Lali received a mention from the grand jury. The dark comedy centers on Zeba, played by Mamya Shajaffar, and her husband Sajawal, portrayed by Channan Hanif. The narrative explores Zeba’s reputation as a “cursed bride” following the deaths of three previous suitors under strange circumstances.
Earlier this year, the project made history at the Berlin International Film Festival as the first production featuring an entirely Pakistani cast and crew to screen there.
The film’s official synopsis describes it as an examination of “the fear, shame, and violence that lie beneath intimate relationships,” specifically targeting the suppressed forces within unions.
Seemab Gul’s Ghost School also earned a grand jury mention in the feature category. The film addresses the crisis of abandoned educational facilities in rural Pakistan caused by administrative failure.
Ten-year-old Rabia serves as the protagonist, navigating local corruption and eerie superstitions to discover why her school was closed.
Gul, whose film previously premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), noted that her “themes dictate my characters,” emphasizing that the project is a character-driven narrative.
The third win came for Sana Jafri’s short film, Permanent Guest. The story follows 26-year-old Fatin and her mother in Lahore as they prepare for a wedding.
The arrival of Fatin’s 70-year-old uncle, Shabeer, creates tension as Fatin is forced to care for him despite an unspoken history of childhood sexual abuse. The film premiered at TIFF alongside Ghost School.
The three films share several creative links. Jafri, the director of Permanent Guest, previously served as a producer for Khoosat’s Joyland.
Additionally, actress Rasti Farooq appears in both Permanent Guest and Lali.
