Pakistan To Submit An Entry To Oscar’s Foreign-Language Category After A Gap Of 50 Years

The year 2013 is turning out to be really promising one for the local film-making industry as we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Right now the big news is that Pakistan will be formally sending its entry to the Oscar’s foreign-language category and that too after a huge gap of 50 years.

Earlier we have also reported that how 2013 is going to be a very happening year for the Pakistani cinema. There are around 3 movies set for release on this Eid and around 20 more that are slated for release in the later half of the year.

Now it is confirmed that a separate independent committee has been formed that will be selecting the film entries from the local industry and eventually sending them to the prestigious Oscars. The deadline for this submission is Oct 1.

Although the committee formed has no links with the government authorities but still it has some really respected names on board, who will evaluate the entries.The committee will be headed by the Sharmeen Obaid of Saving Face fame. Other members include, ace writer Mohsin Hamid, director Mehreen Jabbar, veteran actor Rahat Kazmi, film maker Akifa Mian, Samina Peerzada and Framji Minwalla.

In the past, Pakistan has sent only 2 entries for this mega event and the last of them came in 1963 which makes it exactly 50 years since then. Keeping in view the recent mini revival of local industry and some highly anticipated movies getting ready for the release, this news would surely create a lot of excitement among the film-makers.

It will be of great honour for any of the movie that will be selected for the Oscar race and the fact that it will represent Pakistan on such a gigantic global platform. We hope that events like these would inject some fresh air into the local cinema and audiences here get to see some good entertaining stuff. Cheers!

Source: Variety