CHONGQING, July 4 (APP): Pakistan strongly believes in regional partnerships and multilateral co-productions and invites Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member and observer states to explore opportunities for joint ventures, shared storytelling, and cross-border cinematic initiatives.
“In the true spirit of “Sharing and Win-Win,” let us unite our strengths and film expertise and tell the stories of our people together to the world,” Executive Director General, Directorate of Electronic Media Publications, Samina Farzeen said on Friday.
Addressing participants at Film Cooperation Forum “Benefit Together and Thrive Together – Cinematic Expression of the SCO Spirit” on sidelines of SCO Film Festival 2025, she said that Pakistan offers a visually rich and culturally diverse landscape, beautifully blending a South Asian and Central Asian cultural architecture and influences, ideal for co-productions and cinematic storytelling among SCO countries.
This also offers an attractive and untapped destination for international shootings and collaborative projects, she added.
The executive director general informed that Pakistan has been attending regional and international film festivals specially in China such as Silk Road International Film Festival and the Hainan International Film Festival and in Belarus Film Festival.
“This year, we are participating in SCO film festival with new films and renewed enthusiasm, eager to share Pakistan’s cinematic narrative and learn from the creative excellence of fellow SCO member states.
Talking about Pakistani delegation comprising renowned film producers and directors, distributors, writers and actors, she said that Pakistani films in this Festival are all from diverse geners such as horror, action, social drama, entertainment, comedy, animations.
About the SCO Film Festival, she opined that it is more than just a cultural celebration. This festival is a vision and a collective effort to enrich our regional narrative, foster people-to-people ties, and promote harmony through cinema.
In keeping with this year’s theme of “Sharing and Win-Win”, Pakistan fully supports this noble endeavor and proudly reaffirms its commitment to enhancing cultural cooperation among SCO states and is endeavoring to collaborate with all SCO members in the cinema and film, she added.
Samina Farzeen said that Pakistan and China have signed two landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in the media and cultural sectors, which include a Film Co-Production Agreement and a TV also a Television Co production agreement which lays the foundation for joint film projects, technical cooperation, and the screening of cinematic content across both countries.
Under these MOUs meetings and collaborations between Chinese and Pakistani production houses are being arranged at the state level to facilitate joint-productions agreements and reciprocal screening of films in both the countries, she added.
Pakistan, she said, is currently pursuing collaborations with fellow SCO member states such as Uzbekistan, Iran, Russia, and Belarus for the joint production of films, dramas, documentaries and diverse audiovisual content.
“We also look forward to expanding these collaborative efforts with other SCO member and observer states, in the spirit of mutual creativity and cultural exchange,” she added.
Highlighting Pakistan’s film industry, she said it is undergoing a remarkable revival. Special focus is being given to infusing new film technologies and special effects in the new productions in line with contemporary global standards. Some of the recent productions in Pakistani cinemas have been acclaimed internationally including films like Glassworker, Joyland and The Legend of Maula Jutt & Nayab.
She informed that Pakistan’s domestic box office has seen some steady growth. In 2018 alone, local films earned over PKR 2.6 billion from just 21 releases. And in 2022, Pakistan made history with “The Legend of Maula Jatt”, which earned over Rs. 4 billion worldwide, setting a new benchmark for Pakistani cinema.
In her speech, Samina Farzeen also expressed deepest appreciation to the SCO, China Film Administration, and the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government for hosting remarkable film festival highlighting the power of storytelling combined with new technologies to transcend borders and build strong bridges of love and understanding.