LAHORE: The upcoming third Faiz International Festival will feature a number of national and international personalities as well as folk art, classical dance and theatrical workshops.

This was announced by chairperson of the Faiz Foundation Trust, Saleema Hashmi, while addressing a press conference at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall on Wednesday.

The press conference was jointly addressed by Moneeza Hashmi, Adeel Hashmi and Lahore Arts Council Art and Culture Director Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi. Ms Saleema said the festival would feature several activities.

Ms Moneeza said this year the festival – to be held from Nov 17 to 19 -- would especially focus on the youth and hold a debate competition. In this regard, the trust had invited participants from colleges and schools from across Punjab.

She further said Tanya Wells was scheduled to perform ‘Gulon Mein Rang Bharay’ at a music night. ‘My Journey: Theatre, TV, Film’ will be the title of a discussion wherein Irfan Khoosat, Navid Shehzad, Samina Peerzada and Samiya Mumtaz will talk about their careers. She said Bushra Ansari and Mahira Khan were also likely to be part of the festival.

Moneeza said a session titled ‘The City - A Site for History and Identity’ will feature architect Shatha Safi, who has restored old city of Jerusalem, in conversation with Kamran Lashari and conservationist Asma Ibrahim and Attique Ahmed.

Nahel Al Halabi, who belonged to Syria and now resided in Italy, was also likely to come to the festival for an eastern-western fusion music performance. A classical dance performance by Farah Yasmeen Sheikh from San Francisco will also be part of the event.

Zulfiqar Zulfi said Alhamra was a home for Faiz Ghar because Faiz sahib was one of the founders of the centre.

He said the Faiz festival will feature folk theatre, folk singing and theatre workshops. He hailed the fact that a number of cultural festivals were taking place every year in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2017