Written by: Farheen Ahmed
Posted on: August 05, 2021 | 
| 中文
Opening ceremony of Pakistan Film Week in Beijing
In celebration of 70 years of Pakistan and China’s diplomatic relations, several cultural exchange initiatives have been made, including the Pakistan Film Week in Beijing. Hosted by the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing and China Film Administration, the exhibition will last from the 4th – 7th of August. This is the first-ever Pakistan Film Week to be held in Beijing, and is an important step in promoting relations between the two countries. Deputy Head of Mission, Ahmed Farooq, said that this event was organized with the objective to foster better understanding, cultural exchanges and people to people contacts. He further stated that this is just the beginning of a new era of cooperation between Pakistan and China in the area of film and film production.
The films that are being screened at this event are: Motorcycle Girl, Punjab Nahi Jaungi, Bin Roye, Ho Mann Jahan and Blind Love. They are premiering at China Film Archive, Haidian District, Beijing. The China Film Archive is notable for organizing numerous international events including the Beijing International Film Festival and over 30,000 titles of Chinese and foreign films are stored at the Archive.
The audience during the screening of Motorcycle Girl
On the 4th of August, Motorcycle Girl was screened. It is a film based on the life of a female motorcyclist whose father dreamed about travelling the country on a motorcycle. After his passing, she decides to fulfill his dream by driving up the Khunjerab Pass to the Pakistan-China border.
To cater to all audiences, these films are being screened with both Chinese and English subtitles. For Pakistani filmmakers, Pakistan Film Week is a great opportunity to showcase their talent internationally. It also lays the foundation for potential joint ventures and co-productions between both China and Pakistan’s filmmaking industries in the future.
The organisers of the event
In November 2020, Parwaaz Hai Junoon made a very successful run when it was screened in China. It became the first Pakistani film to premiere and be dubbed in China in over sixty years. The film was widely praised and received applause from all those in attendance at its premiere, including officials from the Chinese government and the Chinese media. This initiative also became a means for showcasing and representing Pakistan’s culture to the Chinese people. Moreover, the success of Parwaaz hai Junoon in China is highly encouraging, as it indicates that Pakistani productions have the potential to resonate with international audiences.
The audience at Parwaaz Hai Junoon's premiere in China (credits to The Nation)
For the film exhibition in Beijing, a poor selection of films was made based more on the clout and influence of the big production houses rather than on the sheer merit of the films. Nabeel Qureshi’s Na Maloom Afraad, Shah by Adnan Sarwar, Revenge of the Worthless by Jamal Shah and Moor by Jami Mahmood and Nadeem Baig’s Jawani Phir Nahi Aani are some of the better films produced in Pakistan that were left out, discouraging our more creative and successful directors.
Cultural exchange through events like Pakistan Film Week in Beijing are necessary for promoting better understanding and stronger ties between the people of both countries. Not only is this a positive step for the filmmaking industry of Pakistan, but it is also likely to build a bridge between Pakistani and Chinese culture. It is on the basis of this relationship that Pakistan and China’s friendship can continue to prosper.
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