4th KaraFilm Festival

4th KaraFilm Festival to premiere Pooja Bhatt film

For a film festival that is only three years old, KaraFilm has earned a great credibility. Continuing with its tradition to promote as well as showcase quality film from around the world, this year the festival, which opens December 3 through December 12 at the Pakistan Insitute of International Affairs Auditorium, Karachi, promises to be the biggest so far.

A total of 28 feature films, 33 documentaries and 50 short films have been short-listed for display, representing the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Austria, England, Scotland, Italy, Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh, Argentina, Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Palestine and, last but not the least, Pakistan.

Shehzad Rafiq's mainstream feature film, Salakhain will compete for critical recognition amidst the choicest short films and documentaries of the country, including Bhooli Hui Hoon Dastaan which will be premiered in the festival.

Last year, the KaraFilm saw the world premiere of Pooja Bhatt's debut directorial venture, Paap. This year, too, the Bhatt daughter is expected to attend the festival where she will have the premiere show of her latest film, Rog.

Aside from Rog, India has got four entries in feature film category: Critically acclaimed actor Rahul Bose's White Noise, National Film Award winning Raghu Romeo, Dhoop starring Om Puri, and the hit sequel, Hyderabad Blues 2.

A number of films have the distinction of exhibiting for the first time in an Asian festival. These include Steven Spielberg's The Terminal (starring Tom Hanks), the animated blockbuster Shrek 2, Goodbye, Lenin! (the highest grossing German entry), the Oscar nominated Zelary (from the Czech Republic), Girl With A Pearl Earring (another Oscar nominated film), and the multiple award winning Cardboard Days (Argentina).

In addition, this year's Festival will see a retrospective of Rakhshan Bani-Etemad, one of the most influential women directors in Iran, as well as a focus on contemporary Italian cinema with a showcase of three recent films from the country. The Festival will also feature a special section of shorts from the United Kingdom dealing with an increasingly multicultural British society.

A large number of foreign delegates and filmmakers are expected to attend the Festival this year, including Om Puri, Irfan Khan, Rahul Bose, Mahesh and Pooja Bhatt, Rajat Kapoor, Rakhshan Bani-Etemad, Rakesh Sharma, Koel Purie, Elahe Hiptoola, and the Italian director, Riccardo Milani. From among the Pakistani celebrities, Zia Mohyuddin, Shehzad Rafique, Zara Sheikh, Meera, Shaan, Nadeem, Sajjad Gul, Satish Anand, Samina Peerzada, Fuzon, Junoon, Mekaal Hasan Band, Abida Parveen and Farida Khanum will attend the shows.

The Festival will be formally opened on the evening of December 2nd with a music concert.

It will be accompanied by an art exhibit titled "Suspension of Disbelief", featuring some of the leading artists of Pakistan.