KARACHI, Feb 15: The 7th KaraFilm Festival — Karachi International Film Festival 2009 — drew to a close on Sunday with an informal award distribution ceremony attended by City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, celebrities, filmmakers, foreign mission representatives and film aficionados.

The closing ceremony, scaled down in size from the 6th KaraFilm Festival because of a resource crunch, followed a boisterous last screening of the feel-good American film, Mamma Mia, based on the songs of the Swedish pop group, Abba. The closing capped 12 days of screenings and events that showcased over 140 films from the 230 odd films initially selected. Films from 44 countries took part in the festival, says a press release.

It says the best feature film award went to Nandita Das’ unreleased film, Firaaq, which was screened on Saturday and Sunday.

Indian filmmaker, Mahesh Bhatt, and Nandita Das attended the closing ceremony along with Pakistani filmmakers such as Mazhar Moin, whose film Burnes Road Ki Nilofer picked up two awards. In fact in a positive development, many Pakistani filmmakers won awards, including the best live action short, best animated short (shared), best supporting actress, best supporting actor, best screenplay and a special jury award for acting, at the 7th KaraFilm Festival. Many Pakistani films were also cited as strong contenders for other awards.

According to the press release, Festival Director Hasan Zaidi in his closing remarks particularly thanked the ‘Friends of Kara’ who stepped forward to donate money so that the 7th KaraFilm Festival could take place in very trying circumstances this year. He also thanked the city government, especially Karachi Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, for all his support and facilitation, as well as Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and the provincial government and its ministry of culture and the Sindh Police for extending all out support. He also thanked Sindh Minister of Culture Sassui Palijo for announcing a grant of Rs1 million for the KaraFilm Society to meet the costs of the festival this year.

Later, the organising committee comprising Hasan Zaidi, Maheen Zia, Tahera Hasan and Adnan Malik paid tribute to the volunteers and staff who helped run the festival as well as the sponsors and supporters whose belief in the festival helped make it possible, adds the press release.