Pakistani short-film ‘Heal’ to release today via Facebook

NIDA DAR

KARACHI: ‘Heal’, a Pakistani short film will be made directly available to the masses and releases worldwide today through its official Facebook page.

‘Heal’ is a short film by Pakistani Director and Writer, Mian Adnan Ahmed. It started for Ahmed as a thesis project while attending Chapman College in California.

The film features a unique story between the regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It highlights the importance of education and tells the story of how a gifted young boy makes an extraordinary effort for his people.

The film has been honored with the Frank Capra Award at the 2011 Fallbrook Film Festival in the US.

Some of the Awards the film has already received include the ‘Jesse Epstein Humanitarian Award,’ (Cleveland 2010) ‘Outstanding Filmmaker (Overall Directing)’ and ‘Best Cinematography,’ (HATCHfest 2010) and also winning ‘Best Science Fiction / Fantasy Film’ at last year’s Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival in the U.S.

’Heal’ has also been screened at the Berkshire International Film Festival in the US.

The film cast includes the young and impressionable Ameer Zhowandai and Hannah Sher both of whom have received numerous accolades for their performance in HEAL.

Some key crew members for the film include Marcus Metsala (Producer), Dani Sanchez-Lopez (Cinematographer), Yukako Shimada (Editor), Prajakta Ghag (Production designer) and John Kenneth E. Brady (Sound designer). The original score has been composed by Tuomas Kantelinen whose previous work also includes the Oscar-nominated feature film, Mongol.

Two traditional music pieces for the film were also performed and recorded by musicians Abid Ahmad and Sayadullah in Baghicha Dheri, Ahmed’s village near Mardan, Pakistan.

The Pakistani film industry is already declining; a short film from Pakistan which has received huge success in the U.S is a sign of new sunrise for the industry struggling for its revival.

The film plans for limited theatrical release in some cities of Pakistan later in the year.