Pakistani cinema has achieved a notable milestone at the Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF) 2026, with three Pakistani productions earning major awards at the Canadian festival.
The recognition highlights the growing international presence of Pakistani filmmakers and performers, with the winning projects showcasing stories ranging from folklore and family conflict to real-life tragedy and the human cost of violence.
Among the biggest winners was Sarmad Khoosat’s Lali, which secured multiple honours during the festival. The film received the Special Jury Prize, while Farazeh Syed was recognised with the award for Best Supporting Actress.
Lali also earned the award for Best Sound Design, giving the Pakistani production a particularly strong showing across several categories.
Set in Sahiwal, the dark comedy centres on Zeba, a newlywed whose marriage becomes increasingly troubled by jealousy, suspicion and rumours connected to a curse associated with her past.
The film combines Punjabi folklore with supernatural themes and domestic tensions, creating a story that explores how fear, rumours and family pressures can influence relationships.
The cast includes Mamya Shajaffar, Channan Hanif, Farazeh Syed, Rasti Farooq and Mehar Bano, adding to the film’s ensemble-driven narrative.
Another important Pakistani achievement came in the documentary category, where Mo Naqvi’s Hanging By A Wire received the Sabeen Mahmud Award for Courage in Cinema.
The documentary revisits the tragic 2023 Battagram cable car incident, in which passengers, including schoolchildren, became stranded high above a ravine after a cable snapped.
Rather than focusing only on the disaster itself, the film examines the extraordinary rescue effort that followed and the determination of people who worked together to save those trapped inside the cable car.
Hanging By A Wire reconstructs the incident using eyewitness accounts, footage captured at the scene and cinematic recreations. The documentary places particular emphasis on survival, community solidarity and the urgent efforts made during the rescue operation.
The festival’s recognition of the documentary also underlines the ability of Pakistani filmmakers to transform significant national events into stories that can connect with international audiences.
The third Pakistani production to secure major recognition was Kamran Faiq’s The Last Glance, which was named Best International Short Film.
Running for 13 minutes, the short film follows Barkaat, his pregnant wife Bushra and their young son Ahmad as they attempt to escape their village amid violence.
Their journey takes a dramatic turn when the family reaches a remote police checkpoint. There, circumstances force them to confront a difficult moral decision that ultimately tests their humanity.
Through a compact narrative, The Last Glance explores themes of fear, displacement, family and moral responsibility during times of conflict.
The success of Lali, Hanging By A Wire and The Last Glance at MISAFF 2026 represents another encouraging moment for Pakistani cinema on the international festival circuit.
The three films are notably different in genre and subject matter, but each presents a distinctive perspective on Pakistani society, culture, history and human experiences.
Their recognition in Canada also demonstrates the diversity of stories emerging from Pakistan’s film community. From Punjabi folklore and supernatural drama to documentary filmmaking and conflict-driven short cinema, the projects reflect a broad creative landscape.
For Pakistani filmmakers, international festivals such as MISAFF provide an important platform to present local stories to audiences beyond the country and introduce new creative voices to the global South Asian cinema community.
The multiple honours secured at MISAFF 2026 are therefore not only individual achievements for the filmmakers and cast members but also a significant moment for Pakistani cinema’s growing international profile.