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Pakistan won two prestigious awards at the 2013 SAARC Film Festival awards ceremony held at the National Films Corporation Sri Lanka. Pakistan won awards in the categories of Best Actress and Best Feature Films in the 3rd edition of the annual SAARC Film Festival, which was held recently.
The Film Festival screened Feature and Documentary films from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which were adjudicated by an International panel of Jury from Singapore, Iran and Russia. The SAARC Film Festival 2013 focused on promoting some of the best films featured from 2010 to 2012 from all member states of the SAARC Association.
The awards for the Best Actress of the year in SAARC Region went to Pakistan’s Aamina Sheikh, for her role in ‘Seedlings-Lamha’. Pakistan also won the Silver Medal in the category of Best Feature Film of SAARC Region for ‘Seedlings-Lamha’.
Pakistan had nominated one feature film and two documentaries for the festival. The film in the feature category was ‘Seedlings-Lamha’, whereas ‘The Story of a Living Saint’ and ‘A Bike Ride from USA to Pakistan’ were included in the documentary category.
The award winning 90 minutes feature film ‘Seedlings’ is directed by Mansoor Mujahid and produced by Meher Jaferi. ‘Seedlings-Lamha’ chronicles the story of a happy couple whose lives are changed forever after a devastating accident. The circumstances surrounding the tragedy leave the couple besieged with unanswered questions, leading them to re-evaluate their whole approach to life and their mutual relationship.
The Awards Ceremony was held under the distinguished patronage of Sri Lanka Promotion and Welfare, Minister of Foreign Employment, Dhilan Perera.
The Chief Guest congratulated the SAARC Cultural Centre for organising the Film Festival and reiterated his support for such events. He also congratulated Pakistan for receiving the awards and appreciated the cinematic excellence displayed by the Pakistani presentations.
The SAARC Film Festival is an annual event, encouraging visual arts, and bringing nations together.
Final Results – SAARC Film Festival 2013:
1. Best Actor – Thisal Moragoda – (Mouse) Sri Lanka
2. Best Actress – Aamina Sheikh (Seedlings) Pakistan
3. Trophy for Best Director – Tigmanshu Dhulia (Paan Singh Tomar) India
4. Best Documentary Film – ‘Cost of Climate Change’ – Tshering Penjor – Bhutan
5. Best Feature Film Bronze Medal – ‘Mouse’ – Directed by Wasantha Moragoda – Sri Lanka
6. Best Feature Film Silver Medal – ‘Seedlings’ – Directed by Mansoor Munjahid – Pakistan
7. Best Feature Film Trophy – Paan Singh Tomar – Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia – India