LAHORE: Seasoned film director Syed Noor has said co-productions between Iran and Pakistan will open new vistas for local films internationally.

Talking to Dawn on Sunday, Noor said he would be co-producing a film with Farooq Mughal, who had been living in Iran for more than 25 years and was interested in making a film which could bring the two film industries closer and pave the way for more co-productions in future.

Dilating upon his upcoming venture, he had recently visited Iran to attend the Fajr International Film Festival which was first held in 1982. “There I met Farooq Mughal, a Pakistani living in Tehran for quite a long time. He in fact approached me for a co-production”.

He said though he was also approached by some other production houses in Iran, he chose the project which perhaps had more meat and viability when it came to making a successful co-production.

The director said a contract between Mr Mughal and him had been signed just a few days ago when the former visited Lahore. Under the contract, he said, 50 percent of the film would be produced in Iran and the remaining half in Pakistan. Some portions of the film, that would have actors from both the countries, would also be shot in Turkey, he added.

He said the film’s music would also be composed by composers from both the countries, adding that the working on the script would start soon and the film would go on sets by September, 2019.

Noor said it would be a prestigious project and would open new avenues for the Pakistani films internationally. He said that during his stay in Iran he watched many of memorable Iranian movies and had meetings with a number of production houses.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2019