Daily Times

The Maati TV and Interactive Resource Centre in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy, Documentary Association of Pakistan and Chalta Phirta Film Festival presented the 12th instalment of Vasakh Documentary Film Festival.

In the festival, films about Pakistan, made by Pakistanis were presented that celebrated the lives and struggles of our people and community. As per the details, the 12thVasakh Documentary Film Festival took place at the Maati TV Office, Lahore. Multiple films about Pakistan were showcased which included the Emmy winning documentary film ‘Armed with Faith’ by Geeta Gandbhir and Asad Faruqi, ‘Dunkey Following European Dreams’ by Hasan Zaidi, and a film package on human rights and civic education produced by Maati TV.

The documentary ‘Armed with Faith’ won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Politics & Government Film in September, 2019. The film follows the men of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bomb Disposal Unit (KPK BDU) to the front lines of the war against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan. The lawless, tribal region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – considered the gateway for terrorists from neighbouring Afghanistan – is the backdrop of the film as the battle for control of this porous border area remains critical to the stability of Pakistan and global security. The film witnessed the first hand dangerous struggle undertaken by the men of the KPK BDU to protect their country against the Taliban threat in the land they both call home. It was directed by Asad Faruqi and Geeta Gandhbir.

Formed in 2008, Vasakh has been established with the specific objective of creating a critical mass by sensitizing the youth on issues of human rights, equal citizenship, gender equality and religious tolerance through the medium of documentary films. The festival provided a platform for aspiring documentary filmmakers to not only showcase their own work but to get exposed to documentary films from around the world.

The second film showcased was ‘Dunkey, Following the European Dreams’. Every year, financially struggling immigrants from Pakistan cross borders illegally through Iran, Turkey to enter Europe in search for better employment opportunities but unknowingly end up into a pit-hole of never ending poverty and struggle. Dunkey, Following European Dreams is an attempt to aware people living in Pakistan who are planning to migrate to Europe illegally; that actual reality is quite opposite to what they have imagined and to show the real image what they go thorough will crossing borders which eventually end up in endless exertion. Hassan Zaidi- the filmmaker aims to discourage other people living in Pakistan from attempting this life-threatening perils as there are hundreds of people who died in this process.

The documentary ‘Armed with Faith’ won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Politics & Government Film in September, 2019. The film follows the men of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bomb Disposal Unit to the front lines of the war against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan

Interactive Resource Centre (IRC) is a non-profit info media organization striving to promote empowerment and social development among the youth and the marginalized members of the society through art based development techniques. Maati TV is Pakistan’s first web based online platform and a product of IRC. It aims at creating an alternative and engaging narrative of Pakistan in support of human rights, democracy and cultural diversity. Maati TV employs various tools to develop these alternative narratives such as documentary short films, interactive theatre, citizen journalism, theatre, vlogs and online advocacy campaigns on various human rights themes.

The festival was attended by a diverse group of people belonging to different geographical locations from all over Pakistan. The films were followed by an incredibly energetic critical discourse where themes related to identity, peace, human rights and censorship were discussed. Some audience members pointed out the importance of such nonfiction narratives that presented a more nuanced and deeper analysis of the Pakistani society and what challenges we face in this day and age. The general rising culture of documentary filmmaking was also discussed and people discussed the need for more platforms where an average Pakistani citizen can be exposed to such narrative.

It was also refreshing to see narratives about Pakistan made by Pakistani people. Very rarely do we get to see a local perspective in this medium but Vasakh in collaboration with Documentary Association of Pakistan, a collective dedicated to bring such nonfiction narratives to a larger audience, provided a rare opportunity. The film makers of these films were making these films to help dissect and analyse the Pakistani society better and create opportunity for a peaceful and tolerance dialogue.