• April 14, 2013
• Broadcasting
• Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) have joined hands to work for the revival of Pakistan’s sagging film industry by producing short films. PNCA has involved the young and creative students of SZABIST’s Media and Communication Studies department by asking them to produce and present three-minute video films on a variety of topics. This initiative will give the youngsters an opportunity to utilise their imaginative, creative and artistic skills to emerge as potential filmmakers of the future. Under the mutual understanding, the short films produced by university students will be judged by senior artists, filmmakers, producers and directors to pick the winners on the basis of their exceptional work, which is going to be relayed on different channels including ARY Music, ARY News, HBO and City FM 89. The winners will be awarded prizes such as MacBook, iPhone 4S and professional cameras. The themes given to the students to produce the short films on are tolerance, religious harmony & respect, cultural face of Pakistan and unity & diversity. SZABIST and PNCA believe that these themes for filmmaking will help portray a positive image of Pakistan, which has been tarnished in the wake of prevailing terrorism, extremism and sectarianism. Both organisations believe that young, passionate and talented filmmakers are needed to inject some fresh blood into the film industry. This week, noted artist and director Hamza Ali Abbasi along with his team held a workshop at SZABIST on behalf of PNCA to give the students an orientation and necessary guidance on the films that they are required to produce.

Source: Daily Times