Zubair Qureshi
Federal minister for National History and Culture Division and Chairman PNCA Shafqat Mehmood, Tuesday, announced on a TV channel three top position holders of digital short film competition organized by PNCA.
The contest was announced earlier this month under the title “Home Bound” due to prevailing lockdown in the country because of coronavirus.
These entries it was announced could be any genre including fiction, documentary, docudrama, musical or family video – both live-action and animation.
According to the announcement made by the Minsiter, Rs50,000, Rs30,000 and Rs20,000 would be paid to the first, second and third prize winners respectively.
The winners as announced by the Minister are Safeerullah & Amir Ali for film “Quarantine Times” (First prize), Faraz Ali for “Lockdown” & Mansoor Nazeer for “A Positive Perspective on the Corona Homebound Situation” (Second Prize) and the third prize went to Fareena Aslam & Muhammad Ali Nadeem for “Homebound”.
Consolation and special recognition prizes of Rs 15,000 were also announced to encourage the homebound people namely Abdul Qadir Roonjah, Muhammad Shahzeb and Babar Angi.
This is an opportunity for the young generation to express their hidden talent and potential in the chosen field of arts while homebound, said the minister while felicitating the winners.
An overwhelming response was received from enthusiast and upcoming filmmakers from all over Pakistan further said the minister.
The idea behind is to use simple electronic devices for expressing the thoughts in film making using cellphones. The activity provided an opportunity to think about the utilization of free time in a healthy and positive creative way.
Short film competition is the best way to project Pakistan’s real image around the world. A total of 143 films were received. The jury consisted of DG PNCA Dr Fouzia Saeed, film critique Aijaz Gul, PTV producer Hassan Hayat Khan and Asmara Shafaq went through these films and selected the winners of the competition.
The competition was part of PNCA’s initiatives for homebound people to keep them happy, healthy by engaging them in creative activities. These also include homebound connection, historical glimpses from PNCA archives and online live concerts from remote areas of Pakistan as a source of honourable livilyhood for artists and entertainment for people.
