Exhibitors & producers must unite: Humayun Saeed on Eid clash with Thor

During the Eid ul Fitr holiday season, 5 Pakistani films were screening in cinemas across Pakistan but local filmmakers were not happy with the release of Marvel giant Dr. Strange. They argued that the equal screen-time should not be given to an international film. Local films should be given priority over international films any day.

Now, 3 Pakistani films are scheduled to release on Eid ul Azha and they are yet again ready to fight for screens with another colossal movie from Marvel, Thor: Love and Thunder.

In a recent interview with Aamna Isani and Hassan Choudary of Something Haute, Humayun was asked about his thoughts on these box office clashes with international films.

“It doesn’t matter because if your film is good, it will create its space and its market on its own whether there is Thor in its competition or Dr. Strange. If your film is capable enough to pull the audience then automatically, cinema owners will give more screens. If there is a demand then they are not going to harm their business. So, what matters in end is whether your film is good or not,” he responded.

There are reports that some of the Pakistani film producers have filed a case against the exhibitors. They alleged that their films were not given equal number of screens in comparison to Dr. Strange or a film that one of the exhibitors has produced. What are Humayun’s thoughts on the matters?

“I have been promoting my film and I was in London so I’m not aware of this case. However, if this has actually happened then the best course of action is that these stakeholders should sit together, address the issue and resolve it. We have a small film industry; arguments or aggression won’t lead to any resolution,” he said.

Humayun further added: “Exhibitors and producers should make a point to take care of each other. Producers should realize that exhibitors have invested so much in a cinema and they need to run them. Similarly, exhibitors should also consider that producers are investing their hard-earned money in projects without any guarantee of profits. So, rather than making it tough for each other, they should discuss their reservations amicably to benefit the film industry at large.”

Watch the interview of the cast of London Nahi Jaunga here: