A Pakistani short film about mental health awareness ‘Darya kay Iss Par’ has won three major awards at the New York City International Film Festival.
Sharing the joyous news, director Shoaib Sultan took to Twitter and wrote, “Proud moment for Pakistan.”More than 96 films were submitted from all over the world in 15 categories. Darya kay Iss Par has won Best Director, Best Film, and Best Actress. The film stars Samiya Mumtaz as well.
Proud moment for Pakistan. 30 min Short Film Darya Kay Iss Paar (This Bank of The River) won three major awards in world prestigious New York City International Film Festival 2021.
Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress. Produced by Nighat and directed by debutant Shoaib Sultan. pic.twitter.com/yFVAZQYCry— SHOAIB SULTAN (@sultan_shoaib) May 7, 2021
The NYCIFF is one of the world’s esteemed film festivals. In the final round, Darya Kay Iss Paar got selected in four categories along with four other movies from the USA, Mexico, and India. Along with the Best Narrative Short film award, the film won the best director and best lead actress awards.
Shoaib’s debut film 30-minute Darya kay Iss Par is a story of a young girl named Gull Zareen, who lives in the northern region of Pakistan. Gull is suffering from depression for many reasons, including the fact that she lives in a cold, secluded mountainous area.
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She has been facing societal pressures since she was a student and its effects on her go worse when she gets married as no one understands her thoughts and feelings. One morning, Gull, unable to take it anymore, breaks down and throws herself into a river, and dies.
A number of Pakistani films and documentaries have won and been nominated for international awards. Zindagi Tamasha by Sarmad Khoosat also bagged two Snow Leopard Awards, Busan International Film Festival Award, and The Kim Ji-Seok Award.
Moreover, Usman Mukhtar’s Bench was nominated for Independent Short Awards in Los Angeles. It was screened at the Cannes International Film Festival as well. Arafat Mazhar’s Swipe became the first Pakistani animated film to be screened at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2021.
