We would like to invite you to partake of yet another feast of films at this year's Festival. And feast it is! There are a grand total of over 170 films being screened this year, including over 40 features, over 30 documentaries and over 95 shorts. They are from 37 countries as diverse as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Iran, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, USA, Canada, Lithuania, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Portugal, Jamaica, Brazil, Ireland, Romania, Sweden, Guatemala, Sudan, Chad, UAE, Sri Lanka, Peru, China, Poland, Estonia, Austria, Australia, Turkey, Greece, Finland and the Czech Republic . They include a number of World Premieres and Asian premieres, while most are at least Pakistan premieres. Many of them have won prizes at other well known festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Venice, London, Sundance and Mumbai as well as international critics' FIPRESCI jury awards. Perhaps we just can't help becoming bigger and better every year!

Among our special focuses, we have a retrospective on one of the most important filmmakers of all time, François Truffaut, whose position as one of the initiators of the French 'New Wave' in the 1950s has a particular resonance for KaraFilm as well. In addition we will be paying a tribute to the critically awarded Irani director Jafar Panahi and shining a spotlight on an important Pakistani filmmaker who has made all his films living abroad, Jamil Dehlavi. Both Panahi and Dehlavi will be screening their most recent films at the Festival as well. As in the past two Festivals, we also have a special children's section of animated films that young and old are both sure to love. Among them, the Hindi / Urdu language version of the critically acclaimed Pixar animated feature, "The Incredibles", with the voices of Shahrukh Khan and his son Aryan.

Accompanying the film screenings will be a unique curated art exhibition of the work of 5 Pakistani artists who draw their inspiration from the hand-painted imagery of popular cinema and billboard advertising. In addition, we will once again showcase some of Pakistan 's finest musical talent at the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Festival. As has become our privilege, some of the most celebrated and critically appreciated filmmakers from within Pakistan and abroad will also be joining us as our honoured guests along with many young filmmakers who hope to share in the celebration of creativity that is KaraFilm.

We are indebted to our sponsors whose generosity has allowed the Festival to grow and become the premiere film event on Pakistan 's calendar - Mobilink, Recorder Television Network, the Dawn Group of Newspapers, Getz Pharma, DHL, Cinepax, Box Office, Bose, FM89 and SMS Security. We are extremely grateful for their continued support and encouragement, as we are of our partner institutions - the Alliance Francaise, the Goethe Institut, the British Council, the Consulate General of Italy, the Indian High Commission, the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs and the Arts Council of Pakistan.