Opened with a gala dinner on March 14 at the May Fair Hotel, the UK Asian Film Festival honoured Mahira Khan, who served as the guest for the evening, with the Flame Award for her contribution to film and activism. Sanam Saeed and Aamina Sheikh, whose recent release, Cake premiered at London’s Leicester Square, were also present on the occasion. Their film is scheduled to screen at the festival on the 20th of March while Mahira Khan-starrer Verna, that tackles the rape-and-revenge theme was also presented at the festival earlier this week.

UK Asian Film Festival is the longest running festival in Europe and has always promoted diversity and minority groups from the Asian community. Aside from showcasing multiple films from different regions, the 12-day event also features the work of Pakistani artists. Mahira introduced the film before the screening while the London screening of Cake at UKAFF will be followed by a Q&A session with director Asim Abbasi and the cast. Also, Bollywood film Dear Maya, that marked Pakistani VJ turned actor Madiha Imam’s film debut, will also take centre stage at the festival on March 23.