Pakistan has been quietly making its presence felt at Cannes year after year, and 2015 will be no different. Two short films will be representing the country at Festival de Cannes 2015: Saffaan QADIR’s Holiday in December and Rayika CHOUDRI’s Baat Cheet.
Pakistan has been quietly making its presence felt at Cannes year after year, and 2015 will be no different. Two short films will be representing the country at Festival de Cannes 2015: Saffaan QADIR’s Holiday in December and Rayika CHOUDRI’s Baat Cheet.
Holiday In December follows Adeel, a student at a university in the north, as he travels south to spend the winter break with his cousins living in one of Lahore’s gated communities.
The second film stars Sarwat Gilani and Joshinder Chaggar as two young women living in Karachi, who confide in each other their recent moments of weakness. The film will be a visual journey through their conversation.
Baat Cheet has already won three gold awards at the Documentary & Short International Movie Awards 2015 in Indonesia in directing, newcomer and international short film categories.
The 68th annual Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to be held from 13 to 24 May 2015 in France.
Danish Ali spins a little humour off fashion week
We spotted the comedian at the Telenor Fashion Pakistan Week last week and 
just knew that a humorous spin-off would be on the cards. It took him two days to get his act up, poking a finger at the fashion industry that takes itself way too seriously. Calling his film ‘Everything You Need To Know About Fashion In Pakistan,’ his spoof was an outsider’s take on the ‘fabulous and fashionable’, from their obsession with VIP access (he missed the front-row hysteria though) and name dropping (he committed the ultimate sin of mentioning Asim Jofa above Deepak Perwani, Nomi Ansari and Tapu Javeri though). Ali also imitated the way fashion week spectators call out at runway models in hope of a sideway glance or any attention they can get. It is a narcissistic, spotlight obsessed industry and he managed to make fun of all the comic elements that one sees in full glory.
It was funny but it was a pedestrian viewpoint. With another fashion week, the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week, around the corner we would like to offer our expertise and insight into a sequel, perhaps. There are chances of backstage catfights, more front row drama and if a certain ‘Princely’ character shows up (again, as he has for the past two years) then some fist-fights and melodrama can be expected too. It’s content begging to be spoofed!
Ghulam Ali set to perform at Varanasi’s annual music event
Following a string of artists who have travelled to India to either breathe new life
into their dying music career or perform for their many fans living across the border, ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali will also be seen performing at the Sankat Mochan Hindu temple in Varanasi this week. However, according to the Indian Express, unlike others who are usually invited for a certain gig, Ali had himself contacted the shrine’s head to request to be allowed to perform at the annual Sangeet Samaroh.
“Ghulam Ali ji himself expressed desire to perform in Sangeet Samaroh,” confirmed temple’s mahant Vishwambhar Nath Mishra. “And it is for the first time, there will be a performance by a Pakistani artist at the famous temple.” Ali will be performing alongside 50 more notable artistes including Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, his sons Amaan and Ayaan, Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj, flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia, Odissi dancer Sonal Mansingh and tabla player Hasmat Ali Khan.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also sent an invitation however, the PM has excused himself due to his political commitments. “I must share that I have heard Ghulam Ali Sahab in the past & that too in person,” Modi said in a series of tweets on Monday. “Also read in the papers that Ghulam Ali Sahab wished that I attend the programme. Unfortunately, this time I would not be able to do so. My best wishes to the organisers of the ‘Sangeet Samaroh’.”
