The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee has invited Pakistani filmmakers to submit their films for Oscar consideration in the ‘International Feature Film Award’ category for the 95th Academy Awards by 2nd September 2022, 5pm (PST).
This will mark the ninth submission by the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee having previously submitted Zinda Bhaag in 2013, Dukhtar in 2014, MOOR in 2015, Mah-e-Mir in 2016, Saawan in 2017, Cake in 2018, Lal Kabootar in 2019 and Zindagi Tamasha in 2020 to represent the best of Pakistani cinema for award consideration in the ‘International Feature Film’ category.
The Oscar committee for 2022 is chaired by two-time Academy Award and Emmy winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and includes Ali Sethi [musician], Omar Shahid Hamid [author/script writer], Rafay Mahmood [film critic], Samina Ahmad [actress, producer and director], Jerjees Seja [TV and film producer], Bee Gul [screenwriter and director], Rizwan Beyg [fashion designer], Mo Azmi [cinematographer], and Zeba Bakhtiar [actress].
The committee will choose one film as Pakistan’s official submission for the International Feature Film Award. An international film is defined as a feature-length motion picture (over 40 minutes) produced outside the United States of America and its territories with a predominantly (more than 50%) non-English dialogue track. Animated and documentary feature films are permitted.
The criteria for eligibility is as follows:
(a) The country-selected film must be first released in the country of origin no earlier than January 1, 2022, and no later than November 30, 2022, and be first publicly exhibited for at least seven consecutive days in a commercial motion picture theater for the profit of the producer and exhibitor. Other than that, there are some technical specifications about the film formats.
(b) The film must be advertised and exploited during its qualifying theatrical release in a manner considered normal and customary to theatrical feature distribution practices. The film need not have been released in the United States.
(c) Films that, in any version, receive a nontheatrical public exhibition or distribution before their qualifying theatrical release will not be eligible for Academy Awards consideration. Nontheatrical public exhibition or distribution includes but is not limited to:
- Broadcast and cable television
- PPV/VOD • DVD distribution
- Inflight airline distribution
- Internet transmission
Based on the criteria above, there are a few films that deem eligible including Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad, London Nahi Jaunga, Dum Mastam, Parde Mein Rehne Do, Ghabrana Nahi Hai, Kamli and the upcoming releases in October including The Legend of Maula Jatt and Tich Button. Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story Of A Serial Killer and Joyland would have been great additions but the former was banned by the censor boards for a theatrical release, while the latter has not been confirmed for a release in Pakistan as of yet.
Poster: Hamza Khawaja as Amaltas & Saba Qamar as Hina in Kamli
So far, the best contender to be selected for the International Feature Film Award category appears to be Sarmad Khoosat’s Kamli. The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee will announce its nomination for award consideration on 30th September 2022. Till then, let’s wait and watch.
For entry forms, submission details and queries, please write to: pakistancommittee@gmail.com
