THE FILM: "Aas" (The End)
PAKISTAN / 2003 / 27 MIN / URDU
Cast: Haider, Xhalay, Tooba, Ahmer, Ibaad
Cinematography: Murtaza Khaliq
Editing: Murtaza Khaliq, Fahad Saleem
Music: Zeeshan Hayat
Executive Producer and Producer: Zia Khaliq
Screenplay: Fahad Saleem
Directed by: Murtaza Khaliq

SYNOPSIS: A boy and girl in love are killed by a rich man. After some time the boy's soul is captured in an architect's body. The girlfriend of the architect is stunned by his paranormal activities. He tells her his story and continues his search for his dead girlfriend only to discover that she is alive and his murderer is her husband.

THE FILMMAKER: Murtaza Khaliq is a student of the Graphic Design Department of Visual Studies at the University of Karachi . This is his first short feature. Audio visual media is his main field of his interest.

THE FILM: "Bila-unwan"
PAKISTAN / 2003 / 50 MIN / URDU
Cast: Sania Saeed, Waqas Khan, Farooq Zameer, Simi Raheel, Nisar Qadri, Asim Bokhari, Noman, Ejaz, Tahira Imam, Ismat Soofi, Neha, Fazeelat, Muaaz Asif, Tipu Sultan
Cinematography: Ather Sabir
Editing: Tipu Sultan
Music: M. Aslam
Producer: Communication Network International, Insaan Foundation Pakistan
Written and Directed by: Tipu Sultan

SYNOPSIS: This film is based on a true story. It highlights the plight of individuality and existence in society and the effects of certain social practices on fragile human minds. It deals with the basic concepts of existentialism with emphasis on issues of human psychology and the social practice of child adoption and its effects on the mental health of children. It is also aims to highlight the importance of following logical paths to solve most personal issues instead of relying on superstitions and erroneous beliefs.

THE FILMMAKER: Tipu Sultan is an established actor and editor and is based in Lahore . He has been working with Ajoka Theatre since 1994 to great acclaim at home and abroad. He is also a freelance director. There are several projects under his belt in the capacities of actor, director and editor. He takes pride in editing his own projects.

THE FILM: "Doctor"
PAKISTAN / 2003 / 25 MIN / URDU-ENGLISH
Cast: Riaz Chugtai, Nuzhat Kidwai, Sivim, Salim Meraj
Camera: Farrukh Ateeq
Editing: Imroze Inayat
Produced by: Arif Abrar
Screenplay: Shandana Minhas
Directed by: Shandana Minhas and Maheen Zia

SYNOPSIS: Saeed Hussain is a doctor in Karachi , Pakistan . Since early 2000, over 200 of his colleagues have been gunned down by sectarian extremists. Others have moved to safer climes, but Hussain has neither the will nor the means to. Driven by his wife, for the sake of their daughter, to face his fear rather than flee from it, he goes through the motions of a normal day. But even healers have no answer to bullets.

THE FILMMAKERS: Shandana Minhas has written for stage, screen and print. She lives and works in Karachi , Pakistan , where she occasionally buys enough water from (illegal) tankers to take long refreshing baths. She's been threatening to write a novel for nearly a decade now but has spent the last two years working for television instead. Her producer/writer credits include documentaries on urban planning and Afghan refugees in Pakistan for local news channels as well as the short film "Don't Fight the Chicken." "Doctor" is her film directorial debut.

Maheen Zia teaches and practices audiovisual media theory. Part of the Visual Arts faculty at the University of Karachi , Maheen's numerous independent projects include the documentary " The People vs. Lyari Expressway", which she directed, and the feature film "Raat Chali Hai Jhoom Ke (aka The Long Night) " , which she edited. Her acute social conscience is evident in her choice of subjects; injustice, alienation, man's wanton disregard for the environment.the strange thing is she's really quite chipper. On good days she even enunciates clearly.

THE FILM: "Jawaz" (The Escuse)
PAKISTAN / 2003 / 50 MIN / URDU
Cast: Asim Bukhari, Fareeha Jabeen, Farhana Maqsood, Tahira Imam, Marvi Manzoor, Sarfraz Hussain Ansari, Tariq Mustafa, Sajid Shah, Kamran Mujahid
Camera: S. A. Butt
Editing: Shakeel Siddiqui
Written and Directed by: Shahid Nadeem

SYNOPSIS: A murder in the name of honour has been committed and the killer claims that he killed the man from another village because of his having had an illicit affair with a woman from his own village. A panchayat is called to identify the accused woman and provide proof that it was a case of honour killing so defence is provided to the tribe of the dead man and for the police. The suspected women are round up and interrogated one by one. In the meanwhile, it is found out that a young man and woman, who were engaged to be married, also were meeting at the time of the murder. The woman, in order to save her fiancé, accepts the charge of the relationship with the dead man and is sentenced for honour killing. But the women locked up with the "guilty" woman help her escape. The pursuers chase on horseback, but buses run faster than horses! The killer is encircled by the police, tribesmen from the victim's tribe and the press. He has to pay for his crime. There is no excuse for taking a human life.

THE FILMMAKER: Shahid Nadeem has been associated with Pakistan Television since 1973 as producer as well as playwright. He has written and produced popular and critically acclaimed serials such as "Zard Dopehar", "Neelay Hath", "Muhasira", "Uraan", "Janjaalpura" and "Ghairat." His telefilms include "Choolah aur Chardevari" and " Sahara ." Nadeem has also produced documentaries on human rights issues, including two for Amnesty International. His documentary on Bishop John Joseph "A Sun Sets In" was selected for screening by the South Asian Documentaries Festival in 2001. Nadeem is also a leading playwright for stage and has written over 40 plays, mostly for Ajoka Theatre in Pakistan . He is well-known for his commitment to social justice and human rights, which is reflected in all his work.

THE FILM: "Ragoun Mein Siyaahee" (Ink In The Veins)
PAKISTAN / 2002 / 52 MINS / URDU
Cast: Noman Khan, Shan, Sharique Mehmood, Imran Qureshi, Owais Khan, Rehana, Kalim, Shanaz, Mohammed Ayub, Sohail Abbasi, Arif Bahalim
Camera:
Editing:
Music:
Producer: Shabaz Siddiqui
Written and Directed by: Shakil Mallick

SYNOPSIS: A corrupt system fills the veins of students with the darkness of ink. The results are plain for all to see.

THE FILMMAKER: Shakil Mallick began his career at Radio Pakistan as a voice artist. He has been a writer for six years and has also won a pride of performance award for his student plays at radio. He has written, directed and acted in several successful theatre productions with Liberty Theatre. His childhood passion of filmmaking finally found expression in directing music videos - he has so far directed eight, including well known ones such as "Gilay Shikway" for Najam Shiraz, "Laut Ke Aa" for Mizmaar and "Chhotti Si Baat" for Sehar. He has also directed a number of short duration dramas for television.

THE FILM: "Sab Kuch Bikta Hai " (Video Shop)
PAKISTAN / 2003 / 27 MIN / URDU
Cast: Jibran Zuberi, Ali Hasan, Kaleem, Ayub Khan
Camera: Usman Zuberi
Editing: Usman Zuberi
Executive Producer: IndieVisuals
Producers: Jibran Zuberi, Usman Zuberi, Niggi Imtiaz.
Written and Directed by: Usman Zuberi

SYNOPSIS: A young man comes to the big city to find a job - what he finds is raw, brutal reality. The Karachi he sees and comes to know is the Karachi that is hidden from sight during the day, and even at night the veil is only partially lifted. This film is about the loss of innocence, of destiny forcing you on paths unchosen and unknown, until you come to the point that the only way forward is to go willingly. For all other roads lead nowhere.

THE FILMMAKER: Usman Zuberi is a film graduate from Columbia College Chicago. As a Creative Director, he runs an independent production studio called IndieVisuals. "Sub Kuch Bikta Hai" is Usman's first medium length narrative film as a director.

THE FILM: "Safaid Raat"
PAKISTAN / 2003 / 62 MIN / URDU
Cast: Shabbir Rana, Beenish Chohan, Nighat, Syed Qaiser Ali, Zeeshan Ghouri
Production Company: X Rayed Films
Executive Producer: Syed Ammar Jafri
Directed by: Syed Ammar Jafri

SYNOPSIS: The plot revolves around a faqeer , a faith healer, who earns his living by consoling people and helping them to rise above the curve in their daily lives. The story portrays the theme of human weakness and the fragility of faith amongst them. It depicts how enlightenment chooses its doom and descends on the vapid existence of the locality. The film is a classical mix of fiction and reality and is made in the tradition of 'dogma' and dogma-inspired-horror.

THE FILMMAKER: Syed Ammar Jafri was born in Lahore and completed his studies with a major in Business Adminstration. "Safaid Raat" is his directorial debut.

THE FILM: "Saibaan"
PAKISTAN / 2003 / 50 MIN / URDU
Cast: Sheema Kirmani, Jehanzeb Gurchani, Javeria Jalil, Zaibunissa, Ehteshamuddin, Mansoor Saeed, Abida Saeed, Naureen Saleem, Sabir Quraishi, Shama.
Camera: Majid Mumtaz, Imran Ali, Moiz Khan, Imran Kazi.
Editing: Anwer Hussain and Saife Hasan
Executive Producer: Mahmood Bhatti
Producer: Tehrik-e-Niswan
Written and Directed by: Anwer Hussain

SYNOPSIS: Ayesha runs a shelter home for women named Saibaan and a women's magazine. She has a deep and intense involvement with the women who seek shelter at Saibaan. Most of these women have been victims of sexual violence. Ayesha herself suffers from the trauma of gang-rape and has dedicated her life to helping other women create networks of solidarity and support.

THE FILMMAKER: Anwer Hussain graduated from the Karachi School of Art and did a course in filmmaking from Manchester Polytechnic in the UK . He worked as a designer in PTV for seven years and then set-up a furniture shop. For the last two years he has been attached with Tehrik-e-Niswan and has directed documentaries, dramas and music and art videos.