Ali Sohail Jaura’s short film called Arz-e-Pakistan (Land of Pakistan) was made with the aim to explore the ‘travel shorts’ genre and re-introduce Pakistan to the world. The film has received recognition on multiple national and international forums in the form of screenings and awards. It highlights the country’s scenic landscape from the eyes of Pakistanis.
Having won the ‘Best Travel Commercial’ award at Travel Film Festival in Moscow, Russia, and ‘Platinum Travel Film of the Year’ trophy at India Film Project in Mumbai earlier this year, Arz-e-Pakistan has another feather in its cap. The film recently picked up the ‘Best Nature and Rural Tourism Film’ trophy at 7th Zagreb Tourfilm Festival (international tourism festival) that included a total of 91 films. Besides, Arz-e-Pakistan also won the first prize in Nature Tourism at the recently held 13th FilmAT Festival.
Since releasing last year, it has won over 10 international awards at multiple international film festivals. To shoot the film, eight team members traveled more than 6000km and captured the scenic beauty and raw nature of the northern tourist and hiking attractions of Pakistan, including the major regions of Kashmir, Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Swat, Naran, Kaghan and Fairy Meadows.
With so many international awards to its credit, we feel Arz-e-Pakistan will be able to highlight a positive image of Pakistan that is often neglected by the mainstream media, something that the makers wish to achieve from the film as well.
