KARACHI: The second edition of the Pakistan Film Festival, being organised by Pakistan’s Mission to the United Nations, will take place in New York on July 7-8, featuring top stars from the country’s movie industry.

According to an official press release, several of the latest films from Pakistan will be shown during the festival at the prestigious Asia Society.

The films to be screened include Na Band Na Baraati, Punjab Nahi Jaongi, Cake, Verna, 7 Din Mohabbat In, Parchi, and Lala Begum.

Oscar award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy will also participate in a special segment titled ‘Beyond the Oscars’, in which she will discuss her present and future work as well as challenges faced by Pakistan’s film industry, it added.

Among the galaxy of actors and stars expected to participate in the festival are Mahira Khan, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Sheharyar Munawwar, Aamina Sheikh, Hareem Farooqi, Zeb Bangesh and Mehwish Hayat.

Apart from these celebrities, a number of movie directors and producers will also attend the festival, including Mehreen Jabbar and Nadeem Baig.

Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi had organised the first Pakistan film festival in the US in December 2016. The second festival is part of her continued efforts to project the country’s soft power, the press release said.

“Pakistan’s movie industry has continued to evolve, having gone through an exciting revival, and we are proud to present another edition of the film festival in the Big Apple,” said Ms Lodhi.

She said a new generation of filmmakers in Pakistan had spearheaded the rebirth of cinema in the country and were producing incredibly diverse and entertaining films. “They are contributing to the cultural renaissance under way in the country which is also reflected in the profusion of creative voices found today in Pakistan’s art, music, literature and the media,” she added.

The festival will be followed by a reception on July 9 at the United Nations to be attended by ambassadors, UN officials, media representatives accredited to the UN and the Pakistani diaspora.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2018