Lahore: The Lahore Arts Council, in partnership with the High Commission of Canada, hosted a Canadian film festival at Alhamra in Lahore. The event screened eight films addressing important global and social themes.
It aimed to foster cultural exchange between Canada and Pakistan through cinema. The festival opened with Monsieur Pug, an animated film exploring identity through a character hiding inside a pug, symbolizing the struggle to be truly seen.
Social Me highlighted the complexities of social media, showing its empowering yet harmful potential. Tying Your Shoes focused on individuals with Down syndrome, celebrating resilience against societal challenges.
Environmental issues were explored in Metamorphosis, a documentary on climate change featuring the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly as a symbol for urgent action. In Flames, a Canadian-Pakistani horror drama set in Karachi was praised for its stylized, cross-cultural storytelling.
Oscar-winning Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy presented Voices of Tolerance and The Spread of Hate Speech in Pakistan, emphasizing the dangers of discrimination and hate speech. The animated film Katak: The Brave Beluga highlighted the importance of biodiversity preservation.
Daniel Arsenault, recognized for organizing the festival, stated that the event aimed to strengthen cultural understanding through Canadian cinema. The festival offered a powerful platform for art to unite diverse communities and address pressing social issues.
