My Karachi Film Festival (MKFF) Day 1 was a platform of insightful films and thoughtful conversations, introducing the filmmaking industry to fresh cinematic talent. Dedicated to supporting and sponsoring independent filmmakers. MKFF aimed to bridge the gap between films and audiences.
The first day of MKFF unfolded on 31st January at Frere Hall and delivered everything it promised. Smoothly covering all the scheduled lineups, the event reflected the art of storytelling and filmmaking that was unique to this event. Following is a sneak peek into what it was like:
Event Schedule Table
| Event | Details |
| Opening Ceremony | Grand opening of MKFF Day 1 |
| Special Screening: Dance With Me | A heartwarming drama about dance and life |
| Special Screening: A.O.C. | A touching documentary on overcoming challenges |
| Main Competition: On the Mountain | A story set in the rugged mountains |
| Main Competition: The Buraq That Can’t Fly | A powerful narrative about ambition and adversity |
| Stories from Quetta: Shadow Left Behind | A poignant story from Quetta’s cultural landscape |
| Stories from Quetta: The Lost Soul of Balashagan | A film that explores Quetta’s deep-rooted traditions |
| Student Films: The Masoom Theatre | A creative student’s short film |
| Student Films: Yezzi | A fresh and innovative student film |
| Student Films: Mehman | A captivating short about hospitality and culture |
The festival opened with a short speech by Munawar Ali Mahesar, who is the secretary of the Sports & Youth Affairs Department of the Government of Sindh.
Although Adil Ahmed, Deputy Director of the Culture Department of the Government of Sindh, couldn’t attend in person, he showed his support by sponsoring MKFF 2026.
The festival was also supported by Dr. Asad Ishaque, Director of Sports, Sindh, who joined the event to encourage the initiative.
Key Takeaways
- MKFF Day 1 included special screenings, competition films, and a student showcase segment that introduced viewers to both experienced filmmakers and fresh talent from around the world.
- The festival also highlighted Quetta’s culture and reflected its stories through films such as Shadow Left Behind and The Lost Soul of Balashagan, bringing Quetta’s rich culture to the festival.
- With the core purpose to bring experienced filmmakers and students under one roof, MKFF gave young creators a chance to learn, grow, and begin their journey of filmmaking with confidence, inspiration, and a unique outlook on the field.
- The panel talk session with well-known names like Haya Fatima Iqbal and Syra Yousuf shared real, practical insights into how films are made and where the industry is heading in these fast-paced times.
My Karachi Film Festival Day 1 Highlights
MKFF Day 1 was designed as an introduction to the festival’s core values: empathy, independent voices, and storytelling that challenges convention. The programming moved fluidly between global perspectives and local narratives, setting the tone for the days that followed.
Opening Film
The festival opened with the world premiere of Dance With Me by Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Safa, a film that immediately established MKFF’s commitment to inclusive and human-centered cinema.
By presenting the world through the perspective of individuals with visual impairment, the film invited audiences to reconsider how stories are seen, felt, and experienced. It was a powerful and fitting opening that foregrounded resilience, dignity, and hope.
Stories From Quetta
Building on this emotional foundation, Day 1 turned its focus inward with Stories From Quetta, a section dedicated to voices emerging from the region. Developed as part of the Quetta Film Showcase, supported by myco, this program highlighted filmmakers working close to home while engaging with universal themes.
Films such as Shadow Left Behind by Aun Haider explored the quiet aftermath of separation and the emotional weight of promises left unfulfilled, while The Lost Soul of Balashagan by Shahan Baloch used suspense and folklore-inflected storytelling to reflect on trust, fear, and the unseen dangers that lurk within acts of hospitality.
Main Competition
The festival then expanded outward through its Main Competition, a selection drawn from an international open call. These films reflected MKFF’s interest in stories shaped by moral complexity, identity, and cultural memory.
On the Mountain by Ayan Raza examined love and sacrifice through an impossible choice, while The Buraq That Can’t Fly by Zeed offered a lyrical exploration of heritage and imagination, questioning how personal freedom can coexist with cultural responsibility.
Panel Talk on the Future of Independent Cinema
Midway through the day, the festival paused for reflection with a panel discussion on the future of independent cinema. Featuring Haya Fatima Iqbal, Ali Sohail Jaura, Ali Rizvi, and Syra Yousuf, and moderated by Ali Kazmi, the conversation bridged theory and practice.
The panel addressed representation, sustainability, ethics, and creative freedom, reinforcing many of the ideas already present in the films screened earlier that day.
Student Film Section
Emerging voices took center stage in the Student Film Section, which showcased works selected through an open call.
These films demonstrated the confidence and experimentation of a new generation of filmmakers, from The Masoom Theatre by Ridha Ibrar, a meditation on memory and legacy, to Yezzi by Ghassen Jerbi, which approached existential frustration with humor, and Mehman by Raed Faisal, a tense family drama that unfolded within the intimacy of a single evening.
Special Screening
The day concluded with a Special Screening of A.O.C. by Samy Sidali, a warm yet incisive film that used humor to address questions of identity, belonging, and assimilation.
Ending Day 1 on this note allowed the festival to close not with finality, but with reflection, leaving audiences thinking about how identity is shaped, renamed, and negotiated.
