The second smallest continent of the world, Europe plays host to people belonging to different cultures, speaking different languages and espousing different religious ideas. By embracing such religious and cultural diversity, Europe negates the theory of clash of civilizations.

These observations were made by the chairman of the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs, Fateyab Ali Khan, at the opening of the first European documentary festival on Friday evening. The festival is organized by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in collaboration with the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs, Karafilm Society and Alliance Francaise.

This film festival is a chance to let people know what film-making in Pakistan really has to offer and by bringing feature films, documentaries and shorts to the UK it will offer a unique opportunity to savour the experience of a socially-engaged documentary/art-film sector as well as the entertaining and cultish world of commercial cinema in Pakistan. Based in Lahore, the latter is known affectionately and somewhat ironically as, ‘Lollywood’!!

‘Pehlee Dharkan’ translates as ‘First Heartbeat’ and this is exactly what Heer Productions has provided via the Pakistani Film, Media and Arts Festival, which will take place from 13th – 25th September.

Glasgow will play host to the UK’s first Pakistani film, media and arts festival next month which will attempt to bring cutting edge films and art exhibitions under one roof.

Titled Pehlee Dharkan (first heartbeat), the film festival intends to inform audiences and the wider community on what film-making in Pakistan really has to offer.

Organizers say it will allow them to savor the experience of a socially-engaged documentary/art-film sector, as well as the entertaining and cultish world of commercial cinema in Pakistan. It will take place from 13th to 25th September.

Pakistan’s Sabiha Sumar won the top prize at Switzerland’s principal film festival(6-16 August) with her story of a woman whose son becomes an extremist.

The jury awarded the Golden Leopard to “Khamosh Pani” (”Silent Waters”), about the relationship between a widow and her son as the young man veers into religious extremism after in 1979. The film also won the festival’s Ecumenical Prize.