CHONGQING, Jul 7 :Pakistan\u2019s film delegation expressed fervent enthusiasm for regional cooperation at Chongqing\u2019s 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Film Festival. Despite a grueling 21-hour journey from Islamabad and Karachi, the delegation, led by Executive Director General, Directorate of Electronic Media Publication (DEMP), Samina Farzin, emphasized their commitment to strengthening cultural ties through cinema.
\nSamina Farzin spotlighted the critical need for an SCO-wide digital distribution framework. \u201cOur films and dramas rarely reach China, our closest ally, due to language barriers and fragmented distribution,\u201d she noted. The delegation revealed that Pakistan\u2019s acclaimed drama Coke Studio and recent hits like The Legend of Maula Jatt remain virtually unseen in SCO markets. Farzin proposed a dedicated SCO streaming platform to showcase regional content alongside streamlined dubbing initiatives. \u201cWhen emotions are universal, language shouldn\u2019t isolate our stories,\u201d she asserted.?
\nBoth filmmakers and officials highlighted concrete collaboration avenues. Director Umair Nasir Ali envisioned a \u201ccinematic bazaar\u201d where SCO nations combine strengths: \u201cImagine Pakistani narratives with Chinese production scale or Iranian screenwriting prowess.\u201d Producer Irfan Malik identified technical synergy, noting China\u2019s post-production and AI leadership: \u201cPakistan lacks advanced facilities \u2013 our films are processed in Singapore. Collaborating here accelerates our growth.\u201d
\n Ali added that script exchanges, co-productions, and university partnerships could build grassroots connections, while Farzin advocated for biannual SCO training workshops to supplement the festival\u2019s impact.
\nThe delegation\u2019s heated AI discussion revealed fundamental tensions. Producer Irfan Malik positioned artificial intelligence as non-negotiable: \u201cChina leads this revolution \u2013 Pakistan lacks AI infrastructure entirely. Most high-budget films go to Singapore for post-production.\u201d He emphasized concrete collaboration: \u201cWe require GPU access, server farms, and capacity building. SCO workshops could fast-track Pakistan\u2019s technical parity.\u201d
\nDirector Umair Nasir Ali countered with artistic reservations. Comparing AI to the digital camera revolution, he acknowledged its inevitability but warned, \u201cPrompt-generated visuals gratify superficially, yet starve creative souls. Green screen replacements help efficiency but erode authenticity \u2013 actors become coordinates in a data map.\u201d Ali advocated balanced adoption: \u201cLike classical painting coexisting with digital art, AI should expand \u2013 not replace \u2013 human storytelling.\u201d
\nBoth agreed that SCO nations must jointly address AI ethics. Malik stressed collective infrastructure: \u201cChina\u2019s rendering farms and Pakistan\u2019s cost-effective studios could merge strengths.\u201d Ali proposed writer-director labs to preserve narrative integrity: \u201cEmotions unite our cultures. Technology should amplify \u2013 not algorithmize \u2013 that humanity.\u201d
\nAli concluded optimistically: \u201cSCO\u2019s shared landscapes and histories can birth cinematic magic. Let\u2019s start co-writing tomorrow.\u201d As Pakistan showcases its films White Ant and Nayab at the festival, the delegation aims to turn dialogue into action, beginning with digital distribution and technical alliances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CHONGQING, Jul 7 :Pakistan\u2019s film delegation expressed fervent enthusiasm for regional cooperation at Chongqing\u2019s 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Film Festival. Despite a grueling 21-hour journey from Islamabad and Karachi, the delegation, led by Executive Director General, Directorate of Electronic Media Publication (DEMP), Samina Farzin, […]<\/p>\n
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