In Flames is Pakistan’s official submission for the Oscar 2023

In Flames is Pakistan’s official submission for the 2023 Oscar!

The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee (PASC) announced its official submission for Oscar consideration this year In Flames by director Zarrar Kahn and producer Anam Abbas.

The film is being nominated for the International Feature Oscar.

For this year, the final choice was made between John and In Flames.

The psychological thriller premiered at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight earlier this year. It was the first Pakistan-set film in Directors’ Fortnight since Jamil Dehlavi’s The Blood of Hussain in 1980.

The star cast of the film includes Rameesha Nawal, Bakhtawar Mazhar, Adnan Shah Tipu, and Omair Javaid.

The story of In Flames unfolds in Karachi. Following the demise of their family’s head, a mother and her daughter’s fragile life gets disrupted by entities from their history, both tangible and spectral. Their bond becomes their only hope against the dark forces that loom over them.

“As the chair of the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee, it is with immense pride and a deep sense of responsibility that we select and submit In Flames as Pakistan’s official entry for the International Feature category at the 96th Academy Awards,” said PASC Chairperson Mohammed Ali Naqvi in a statement.

“This selection not only underscores the film’s brilliance but also marks a pivotal moment in the evolving narrative of Pakistani cinema. In Flames is a testament to the boundless potential of Pakistani cinema on the global stage.”

“I’m deeply honored that our film has been recognized by Pakistan’s Oscar committee. We’re currently self-distributing the film in Pakistan, as, despite clearance from the local censor board, we were considered too controversial by local distributors — so we’re doing it ourselves. The response from Pakistani audiences has been rapturous — and we’re just grateful to be able to show the film in the city it was made in,” said Kahn.

“In Flames offers rare representation, both behind and in front of the camera, and through the resilience of our team, the film continues to find its audience. In a year of incredible global cinema, In Flames has stood with giants, and found acclaim from Cannes, TIFF, Sitges, Busan to Red Sea.

“In Flames is an urgent call to action, exposing the brutality of the patriarchy and the power of community. In today’s divided world, it offers solace to the oppressed — and tells them that hope can never be extinguished.”