Pak filmmaker’s award-winning ‘HEAL’ set for release
ISLAMABAD: ‘HEAL’, an award-winning short film set between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which has been running on the international festival circuit for the last two years, will now be released exclusively online in the start of July.
The film, set in the midst of the ongoing conflict in this region uses the supernatural to highlight an often-ignored reality in today’s world and tells the story of how a gifted young boy makes an extraordinary effort for his people.
The film has been written and directed by Pakistani filmmaker Mian Adnan Ahmad and comprises cast and crew members from various countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Finland, Spain, Japan, India and the US. ‘HEAL’ has already garnered numerous accolades internationally having received more than 20 awards, while in competition against feature films, documentaries and Oscar-nominated short films, generating interest in Pakistan and around the world, said Adnan Ahmed while talking to APP.
Some of the awards received include the prestigious Frank Capra Award (Fallbrook 2011), Jesse Epstein Humanitarian Award (Cleveland 2010), Outstanding Filmmaker (Overall Directing), Best Cinematography (HATCHfest 2010), and Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Film at last year’s Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival in the US.
The cast includes the young and talented Ameer Zhowandai and Hannah Sher, both of whom have received awards for their performances in ‘HEAL’s. Other cast members are well-known Navid Negahban (24, Homeland, Brothers), along with Fereshta Kazemi, Walid Amini and Reha Zamani.
Some key crew members for the film include Marcus Metsala (producer), Dani Sanchez-Lopez (cinematographer), Yukako Shimada (editor), Prajakta Ghag (production designer) and John Kenneth E Brady (sound designer).
The original music score has been composed by Tuomas Kantelinen whose previous work also includes the Oscar-nominated feature film ‘Mongol’. Two traditional music pieces for the film were also performed and recorded by musicians Abid Ahmad and Sayadullah in Baghicha Dheri; Adnan’s village near Mardan, Pakistan.
‘HEAL’ has been screened at numerous film festivals and platforms across the globe and some special screenings were also arranged in some cities of Pakistan.
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