ISLAMABAD: The premiere of one of the biggest movies since the pandemic, James Bond: No Time To Die, was jointly hosted by British High Commissioner Christian Turner and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry at Islamabad Club on Thursday.

The red-carpet premiere was a high-profile event attended by federal ministers Shireen Mazari, Hammad Azhar, Khusro Bakhtiar, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf and music legend Attaullah Khan.

The British high commissioner and the information minister reiterated the deep ties between the UK and Pakistan and the potential for greater cultural exchanges, including in film and arts.

The high commissioner announced a partnership with Patakha Films run by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and the Scottish Documentary Institute. The programme will work with 10 emerging female filmmakers to build their creative skills and help them produce short films with mentors from across Pakistan and the UK. The films will be launched under the British Council’s initiative ‘New Perspectives’ to mark Pakistan’s 75 years of independence next year.

Mr Turner said: “James Bond is a cultural icon of the UK’s world-class film industry. As we mark Pakistan’s 75 years of independence in 2022, I hope we can have even more collaboration between our countries in the creative industries; the new partnership with Patakha Films is an example of that.”

Mr Chaudhry said: “I am grateful to British High Commissioner Christian Turner for his unequivocal support for restoration of international cinema in Pakistan.”

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2021