- Saturday, April 27, 2024
In Flames is currently running in cinemas in Pakistan.
By: Mohnish Singh
The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee (PASC) has selected its official submission for Oscar consideration.
Directed by Zarrar Kahn and produced by Anam Abbas, the horror film In Flames is being nominated for the International Feature Oscar 2024.
The film, which premiered at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight earlier this year, is set in Karachi.
Following the demise of their family’s head, a mother and her daughter’s fragile life gets disrupted by entities from their history, both tangible and spectral. Their bond becomes their only hope against the dark forces that loom over them.
Chairperson of the PASC, Mohammed Ali Naqvi, said, “This selection not only underscores the film’s brilliance but also marks a pivotal moment in the evolving narrative of Pakistani cinema. In Flames is a testament to the boundless potential of Pakistani cinema on the global stage.”
Director Zarrar Kahn said, “We are currently self-distributing the film in Pakistan, as, despite clearance from the local censor board, we were considered too controversial by local distributors — so we’re doing it ourselves. The response from Pakistani audiences has been rapturous — and we’re just grateful to be able to show the film in the city it was made in.”
Kahn went on to add, “In Flames offers rare representation, both behind and in front of the camera, and through the resilience of our team the film continues to find its audience. In a year of incredible global cinema, ‘In Flames’ has stood with giants, and found acclaim from Cannes, TIFF, Sitges, Busan to Red Sea. The film is an urgent call to action, exposing the brutality of the patriarchy and the power of community. In today’s divided world, it offers solace to the oppressed — and tells them that hope can never be extinguished.”
In Flames is currently running in cinemas in Pakistan.
