Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of Switzerland organised the screening of two films “Kabul Cards” and “Lebanon Wins the World Cup” here at the residence of the Swiss Ambassador. At the event Swiss Ambassador to Pakistan Marc P. George and his wife welcomed the guests.

19-year-old Sakina Sadaf, one of producers of Kabul Cards told Daily Times, that the people of Pakistan were hospitable and this was her third trip to the country.

She said that through this documentary she shared a message to the world that their country was not just about war, but despite all odds. A good life was also there.

She said that with other two fellows Sahar, and Nargis also members of the civil society have filmed three years in Kabul for the film. Two Norwegians – Christoffer Naess and Anders Smme Hammer helped in the idea to make the film.

Earlier, speaking after screening her film, Sadaf said that they shooted film on small camera because they want actuality and if they had used big camera people could not openly speak. She said with the passage of time the security situation had improved in Afghanistan.

She said Kabul was relatively secure than other areas of Afghanistan. She said that her parents supported her with the film.

“We were not able to release our work in Afghanistan, because of fear. But, some people managed to see our footages on You Tube and termed it against Islam” she said.

“Despite the ongoing war and widespread discrimination against women, we three girls took the challenge of filming and showing the world how we have fun together and how actively we are working to change the society in Kabul Cards” she said.

Ambassador Marc P. George after the event speaking to Daily Times said that Kabul Cards like documentaries should also be screened in universities and other educational institutions. The Swiss Embassy was also discussing with the United Nations for showing this film in Pakistani universities.

Because, Pakistani women were also facing many problem like Aghan women. He said that through the film young girls from Afghanistan highlighted harassment and verbal violence. The Swiss Ambassador said that respect of women is not only a western value but was universal.

The Austrian Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Brigitta Blaha, shared her views with Daily Times and said that both films were quite impressive. She said that the situation of women and problems are almost the same everywhere.

“We are also part of this film festival and next week yjr Austrian Embassy will host film the Italian Refugee Island on the refugee facing problem in Europe” she said.

After the success of the 2015 experience, the second edition of the film festival Human Rights. It will end the right message on thr Human Rights Day on10 December 2016, she remarked.

In the festival 23 movies and documentaries screened in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Gujarat, Peshawar and Quetta. These films themes featured include migration, democracy, forced marriages, domestic violence, and freedom of press, honour killings, decent work and women’s empowerment among others. The partners have in addition to the European Union, the Swiss Confederation and the International Film Festival of Human Rights (FIFDH), this year the Embassy of Argentina and the High Commissions of Australia and Canada have joined the organizing committee of the festival.

Lebanon winnning the World Cup, has also been screened with English subtitles. On the eve of the 2014 Fifa World Cup, two former enemies form the Lebanese civil war prepare to support their favorite team: Brazil.

The film is about war, football and the power of forgiveness. The film already screened in Sulmona, Italy international film festival Nov 3-6. Earlier, it was screened in cinemas in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel.