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Movies to watch out for, From Pakistan!

Chalay Thay Saath's teaser takes you on a journey around Pakistan


Umer Adil's feature film seems to have a lot going for it but seems a little too familiar

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Umer Adil's feature film seems to have a lot going for it but seems a little too familiar


Teaser trailers are tricky; they show you the best scenes of a film, raise expectations and compel you to buy tickets to the film.

But do we feel that way about the new Chalay Thay Saath trailer? We're still on the fence.

Umer Adil's feature film seems to have a lot going for it: a good-looking cast, Pakistan's northern areas as its beautiful backdrop and clearly good cinematography. However, it all seems a little too familiar, a little too neat, a lot like the Lahore Se Aagay trailer when you look at those drone shots and realise it's also a road trip flick.

Just like the Janaan trailer, things take a dark turn towards the end so we can expect some hint of drama from the rom-com.

We just hope that the film's script holds us to the very end.

Starring Syra Shahroz, Osama Tahir, Mansha Pasha, Zhalay Sarhadi, Behroze Subzwari, Faris Khalid and Shamim Halai, among others, Chalay Thay Saathwill release in 2017.
 
Urwa Hocane just released the video for her debut song!


Who saw this coming? We didn't!

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Oh em gee.

After rave reviews of her role in Udaari, Urwa Hocane is now actually a singer. The music video for her debut track has just been released.


Titled 'Ao Le Kar Chalay', the song appears to be a call for listeners to discover themselves, tap into their potential and seek what gives them joy.

Urwa recently played a talented singer in Udaari opposite her fiance, singer/actor Farhan Saeed, but she decided to embark on her musical journey solo.



We wish her luck.
 
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Pakistan Film Festival New York Schedule (Dec 3-4 2016)

For seat reservation please call 646-791-6628 or email contact@pffny.com We will confirm your seat with a reservation number by return email or by phone.

You will pick up your tickets at the venue, anytime after 11am on Saturday & Sunday.
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@Moonlight @django @The Sandman
 
Pakistani celebs glam up the UN at our first film festival in New York

The two-day festival will showcase the top rated Pakistani movies over the weekend

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The first-ever Pakistan Film Festival kicked off Friday night and it was grand!

The UN Headquarters in New York had a red carpet reception attended by some Pakistani's biggest stars, ambassadors accredited to the UN, community members, media and movie buffs. We're talking stars like Mahira Khan, Mawra Hocane, Nabeel Qureshi, Saba Qamar, Wajahat Rauf, Yasir Hussain, Sheheryar Munawar, Asim Raza, Tooba Siddiqui, Adeel Hussain, Sanam Saeed, Jerjees Seja, producer Afia Serena Nathaniel and Mehreen Jabbar.

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T'was a star-studded event! Photo: Publicity


Chief guest of the two-day festival, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, congratulated the Pakistan Mission to the UN for organizing the festival, saying that cultural events such as this one play a key role in promoting better understanding among people of the world.

Eliasson pointed out that art, film and music build bridges across cultures and promote peace through inter-cultural understanding. He welcomed the artists saying "You have given life to this building," and added, "You have already conquered Pakistan, now you will conquer New York," to which the artists responded with a huge round of applause.

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Mahira Khan walks the red carpet with her flawless skin. Photo: Publicity


The festival will showcase at cultural centre Asia Society screening top-rated Pakistani movies over the weekend. Movies include Dobara Pher Se, Lahore Say Aagay, Actor in law, Pakistan's Oscar nomination, Mah e Mir, Oscar award winner Sharmeen Obaid's animated film, 3 Bahadur, Dukhtar, Dance Kahani and Ho Mann Jahaan.

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That's right! Even Miss Pakistan USA, Sarish Khan was there! Photo: Publicity


Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi, who took the initiative to hold the festival, read out a welcome address, saying the films from Pakistan will convey the energy and dynamism that defines today's Pakistan.

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Saba Qamar poses with Pakistan Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi. Photo: Publicity


"This revival has been spearheaded by a new wave of young filmmakers and actors; they have produced a devise array of movies that have been pushing the boundaries and charting and breaking new ground by tackling bold themes and using digital technology," she said.

The Pakistani envoy added, "It is appropriate that we are launching the Festival here at the United Nations which embodies and represents the finest example of our shared humanity,"

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Frieha Altaf, a huge supporter of the arts, comes in her quirky fashion. Photo: Publicity


Lodhi has also taken part in many projects to promote Pakistani art and artists before, including a Sufi night at the UN General Assembly hall with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

“Art, it is rightly said, transcends borders and connects people from different backgrounds and nations and unites all civilizations and cultures in a collective celebration of our emotional lives," said Lodhi.
 
Melting hearts: Gulzar pens lyrics for Yasir Nawaz’s next

The songs will definitely be a hit and worth listening to.
With his roots in Jhelum and branches spread across India and the Urdu/Hindi speaking community of the world, Gulzar, like any great poet is not restricted by borders. And it’s not only because of his timeless poetry and songs but also because of the stand he takes in times of utter chaos. Whenever the war drums have rolled, he has written for peace, whenever India and Pakistan have indulged in mudslinging, he has held the mirror.

While we were trying to figure out if Indians have refused to export Bollywood movies or we have chosen not to screen them, Gulzar collaborated with Yasir Nawaz on his next Pakistani film Mehrunissa, We Lub You.

Talking to The Express Tribune Nawaz revealed that it was Gulzar’s wish to collaborate with the Pakistani film industry and having been born here, the poet was keen on writing a song for our industry.

Nawaz had been friends with Gulzar for four years, after being introduced to him by Hassan Zia whom he had known since two decades. “We planned the collaboration some six to eight months back before Pak-India tensions intensified,” Nawaz told The Express Tribune.

“However, despite the worsening socio-political scenario Gulzar saab did not back out from the project, and the team of Mehrunnisa, We Lub Youis indebted to his presence in the movie and to his gesture amid so much turmoil. We were blown away by his keenness to keep his word,” he said.

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The legendary lyricist has penned down a song titled Badalna hai, which has been sung by none other than the vocal powerhouse, Sukhwinder Singh. It is also reported that perhaps Gulzar will be writing one more song for the movie but Nawaz didn’t confirm this.

The director shared that he has deep admiration for the poet and his work referring him as a “legend”. The choice between Gulzar and other Pakistani lyricists was an obvious one, considering the poet’s rich experience and immense command on his craft.

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Apart from winning numerous awards in India, Gulzar has also been internationally recognised with an Academy Award and Grammy Award both for the song Jai Ho from the film Slumdog Millionaire.

“I must mention here that our collaboration with Gulzar was purely an artistic move without any other intentions. I as a Pakistani respect the decision to ban Indian films but at the same time am aware of its repercussions”. He admitted that in his personal opinion from the business perspective, it would cause a major loss for the film industries of both countries.

However, Nawaz is optimistic about the future of Pakistani cinema as he believes that the industry will keep producing better films in the future.

Mehrunnisa, We Lub You will mark the film debut of TV actor Sana Javed, who will be playing the female lead in the film alongside Danish Taimoor, who also featured as the lead actor in Nawaz’s first feature film outing, Wrong No. .The film will also feature Javed Sheikh and theater actor Saqib Sumeer in the side roles, with Sumeer also serving as the screenwriter of the film.

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Taking to the floors this time with a bigger budget and greater confidence, Nawaz also revealed that Mehrunnisa, We Lub You will have one of the biggest sets ever created for a Pakistani production.
 
Pakistan's first production and entertainment conference will kick off on Dec 3


Focus PK '16 will honour two major contributors to the entertainment industry — Anwar Maqsood and Ghazanffar Ali

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The Focus PK team at their press conference yesterday - Photograph courtesy Focus PK's Facebook page


KARACHI: The country’s first national production and entertainment trade conference — FocusPk16 — is set to open its door on Saturday for a two-day event at the Beach Luxury hotel.

This is being organised by the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) — led by the FPCCI-Standing Committee on Production and Entertainment committee’s chairperson Atiqa Ohdo.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Ms Odho said that the conference was going to be a real game changer in the industry. “This is being done for you and for anyone who is interested in this business,” she said, adding that it was time for the financial sector to take the entertainment industry seriously.

Atiqa Odho added that on the first day of the conference they would honour two men who had made major contributions to the entertainment industry — Anwar Maqsood and Ghazanffar Ali.

“FocusPk16 shall be filling in a wide gap in our industry where we have resources but aren’t sure of how to utilise them,” said the actress, adding that they were trying to create a medium of interaction not only for people in the industry but aspiring filmmakers and entertainers.

“This is a first of its kind event and gives industry professionals the opportunity to network and exchange views with likeminded individuals, decision-makers and the real stakeholders,” she added.

FPCCI VP Muhammad Hanif Gohar said he was looking forward to the conference — the first of its sort in Pakistan and something he had been following since its inception.

“I am so happy to see our country’s entertainment and production industry — which had been ignored earlier, getting good attention,” he said, adding that Ms Odho and her team had worked very hard to bring that together.

FPCCI senior vice president Shaikh Khalid Tawab said this was the first time the federation was doing something related with the entertainment industry. “This is and can become an even bigger industry but it has to be promoted,” he said.

Shafqat Jalil, the director general of the federal information ministry, said the government fully supported FocusPk16. He added that the information minister would be attending the event to exchange views on several topics of discussion.




According to Mr Jalil, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was interested in reviving the film industry and wanted to hold a national convention to discuss and see how the government could help and contribute to its revival.

The sessions will begin at around 11.30am and go on till 5.30pm. They will cover a range of issues, including scripting and storytelling, animation, theatre, music, parallel cinema, programming, foreign content and syndication, censorship policies and audio engineering.

Speakers at the conference will include information minister Maryam Aurangzeb, Pemra chairman Absar Alam, Aly Mustansir, Usman Peerzada, actress Maria Wasti, actor and director Sarmad Khoosat, Choorian director Syed Noor, Vasay Chaudhry, singer Zeb Bangash, writer Hasina Moin, Sarwat Gilani, Samina Ahmed, Misbah Khalid, Zohaib Kazi, Salman Shahid, Seemi Raheel, musician Shallum Xavier, cinema owner Nadeem Mandviwala, Sohail Hashmi, CEOs, media house owners, producers and directors.

To attend, you can register at www.focuspk.net by clicking on register. Tickets are free for people related to trade or industry.

FPCCI vice president Arshad Farooq, Fareshteh Aslam, Seema Jaffer were also present at the event.
 

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