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    Face Film Festival Opens to Large Audience

    Written by: Aiza Azam
    Posted on: April 29, 2016 |

    'My Name is Adnan and I Will Not Blow You Up'

    The Face Film Festival opened at the PNCA in Islamabad on Friday afternoon. In a brief introduction to the event, H.E. Nedim Makarevich, the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina explained that the Embassy had collaborated with the organizers to hold an event of music and film, specifically to help promote a softer image of Pakistan abroad.

    Three short films were shown. The first, a mockumentary titled ‘I am Adnan and I Will Not Blow You Up’ was a satirical take on the paranoia induced in society by the skewed media promulgation of the threat of terrorism. The protagonist and director, Adnan Smaji?, relates his own experience using random shots of himself through a CCTV camera and narration. Using punchy one liners, he criticizes negative stereotyping of conservative Muslims. Around the time of the civil war, he relates, his elders told him lots of men with large beards had begun showing up; he doesn’t remember and has to take their word for it, but notes that whenever things start to go south, there always seem to be bearded men around.

    In the second film, ‘Whatever Will Be, Will be’, directed by Esma Saric, a bumbling first time robber breaks into the house of an old pensioner who couldn’t care less about the intruder, and even advises him where his pitifully meager savings are hidden. But each time the robber tries to leave with his loot, the old man asks him to leave a little money behind for rent or food, until the robber’s conscience compels him to add money of his own to the old man’s savings and leave them with him. It is a social critique beautifully delivered with dry humor and wit.

    Face Film Festival 2016 at PNCA Islamabad

    Jasmin Pivic’s ‘One Way Ticket’ addresses the issue of the youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina leaving their homes in increasing numbers in search of work. The protagonist is a young man with a top notch university degree who has no money, and, unable to find a job locally, is forced to leave and go abroad. His father is shown as a soldier who emerged in victory from the civil war, but who, like other parents of his generation, is witness to a draining of talent and youth from their own lands for lack of opportunity. The fact that there is no dialogue spoken in the film adds to its poignancy and highlights a pervasive problem effectively.

    The evening ended with a musical performance. Ambassador Makarevich and Arieb Azhar were on vocals and guitar, with Arieb Azhar also accompanying on a kind of traditional drum. The gentlemen led the delighted audience through two rousing Bosnian love songs, in a traditional music form that Ambassador Makarevich explained had existed for atleast 500 years. The haunting strains of ancient music and the robust voices transported the crowd from an ordinary auditorium to the hills and valleys of a land of passion and beauty. To close the session, Arieb Azhar sang an old Bosnian song about a Christian man who sings his love for an extraordinarily beautiful Muslim woman he cannot marry.

    The evening continued with a screening of acclaimed Pakistani film Moor, a discussion with filmmakers Yasir Jaswal and Jami, and a late screening of the film Zinda Bhaag. The Festival continues tomorrow afternoon, with lots more to come. Go there!

    Face Film Festival 2016 at PNCA Islamabad

    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021