EACPE Video Contest 2017: Screening and Panel Discussion
The competition was held to raise awareness while also encouraging activism on social issues through eight minute long videos.
With the basic theme of fostering tolerance in Pakistan, the Eqbal Ahmed Centre for Public Education Video Contest, sponsored by Getz Pharma, gave aspiring documentary and videographers a platform to highlight how they can contribute to change in the country.
The competition was held to raise awareness while also encouraging activism on social issues through eight minute long videos. Entries were sought from all over the country and the panel of judges included culture critic and columnist Nadeem Farooq Paracha, film director and editor Maheen Zia and columnist and film critic Khusro Mumtaz.
The EACPE annual competition seeks to raise awareness and encourage activism on important social issues, and encourage the use of new media in Pakistan.
The shortlisted films for the contest included ‘Breaking Barriers’, ‘Naqsh-e-Karachi’, ‘The Unknown Mountaineers’ and ‘A House of Smoke and Fire’. The top prize was bagged by Junaid Aslam and Montasir Khan for ‘A House of Smoke and Fire’, which also included Rs. 200,000. The documentary was set around pollution and the harmful effects it has on everyday life.
The runner up in the contest was ‘Don Akhbar’ made by a trio comprised of Kamran Shahnawaz, Samad Baloch and Dostan Elahi. This eight minute documentary highlighted violence and how it affects the print media. They received a prize of Rs. 100,000.
The panel sessions were started with a jury note from Mumtaz, which was narrated by Zia, who was also a panelist along with Arieb Azhar. The discussion revolved around encouraging and fostering tolerance in the country.
Questions prompted discussions on how there is a lack of counter narratives for extremist mindsets and how there is a dire need to develop them.
The screening and panel discussion was hosted and moderated by Mr. Aamer Naseer, Director Administration Getz Pharma (Pvt) Ltd, whereas Mr. Khalid Mahmood, the managing director and CEO of Getz Pharma (Pvt) Ltd and EACPE board member, also addressed the audience.
