LIFF - Lahore International Film Festival

The Festival will be held in the beautiful city of Lahore, one of Pakistan's most liberal and cosmopolitan cities. It exerts a strong cultural influence over Pakistan. Lahore is also home to Pakistan's film industry and was one of the film cities of British India including Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. The first silent film made in Lahore, The Daughters of Today (Director: G K Mehta), was released in 1924. A.R. Kardar, along with M. Ismail, established the first studio in 1928 and produced the first talkie, Heer Ranjha, in 1932. The city also hosts much of Pakistan's tourist industry with major attractions including the famed Walled City, numerous Sikh shrines, and the Badshahi and Wazir Khan mosques. Lahore is also home to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens. The Lahore International Film Festival believes film as an art form has the power to bridge cultures and illuminate the universality of the human experience. The focus of the LIFF is to promote self-expression, creativity and celebrate cinematic excellence in any language. Another notable feature is the appeal of the festival to young people, both in terms of the large youthful audience and to develop and promote young talent. The LIFF aims for a leadership role in providing an extensive forum for independent filmmakers in Pakistan and beyond. The Festival will be held on two venues simultaneously. Film screenings will be in a multiplex and other festival activities like stalls, workshops, master classes, panel discussions and networking will be at an art centre. The Festival will host special Lahore sightseeing tours, dinners of traditional Lahori food at historical places of Lahore for foreign participants/filmmakers and guests.