India’s buzzing city New Delhi hosted its fifth Yellowstone International Film Festival, as per Deadline. The prestigious event screened an abundance of projects in celebration of independent cinema. One film to join this year’s lineup was Pakistan’s film Wakhri, which also went on to bag the Best Director Feature Film award.
Director Iram Parveen Bilal, who won the award, took to Instagram to express her gratitude. “Thank you for the honour, [YIFF] jury and organisers. [Wakhri] shines brightest with its audiences. Deep gratitude to my entire team, cast and crew alike, for enhancing my vision every step of the way,” she wrote.
Beyond this success, the film also garnered praise from YIFF’s founder and director Tushar Tyagi. When asked which films he’s excited to see, Tyagi mentioned a number of domestic and international releases, also lending the spotlight to the Faryal Mehmood starrer in his answer.
“We are very much looking forward to screening the closing night feature narrative, the award-winning Wakhri (One of a Kind) from Pakistan by Iram Parveen Bilal, which is having its Indian premiere with us, having previously screened at prestigious film festivals such as SXSW, Cleveland International Film Festival, Red Sea International Film Festival, and more,” he mentioned.
The film, which had its world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival, follows the story of a teacher who becomes an influencer and braves the challenges that come with being a woman at the centre of such a controversy. It is inspired by the real-life events of deceased, viral influencer Qandeel Baloch.
Speaking to New Indian Express earlier this year, Iram said, “Qandeel’s spirit was the perfect segue into showcasing not just a brave, marginalised group of characters but also the collective monster that we have created through social media, draining empathy and empowering mass rage with every faceless click and comment.”
Having studied in the US, Iram also shared her insights on the growth of Pakistani cinema, believing that global interest in local stories is making a significant positive impact on the entertainment industry here.