Pakistani films that caught global spotlight in 2022

This combination of pictures created on December 21, 2022 of four Pakistani movie stills shows (clockwise from top left) scenes from the short film Sandstorm released in September 2021, feature film Kamli released in June 2022, The Legend of Maula Jatt released in October 2022, and Joyland released in November 2022. (AN Photo)
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Updated 21 December 2022
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Pakistani films that caught global spotlight in 2022

  • The year 2022 has been ecstatic in terms of Pakistani cinema making waves worldwide
  • ‘Joyland,’ ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt,’ ‘Kamli’ became face of local cinema around the globe

KARACHI: The year 2022 was groundbreaking for Pakistani cinema in terms of its representation and recognition abroad.

From Saba Qamar-starrer ‘Kamli’ to ‘Joyland,’ the critically acclaimed Pakistani Oscar entry, to the reboot of ‘Maula Jatt,’ Arab News Pakistan brings you a list of Pakistani films that received international recognition in 2022 for their powerful storylines, brilliant skills of actors and the themes they were centered around.

Kamli




This screengrab, taken on December 14, 2022, from the trailer of the Pakistani movie "Kamli" features actors Sania Saeed (right) and Saba Qamar (left). (Photo courtesy: Khoosat Films)

Sarmad Sultan Khoosat’s film Kamli, which released in cinemas across Pakistan on June 3, is set for its European premiere next month at the 2023 International Film Festival Rotterdam’s (IFFR) the Limelight Programme. Prior to this, the film was screened at the Indus Valley International Film Festival (IVIFF) 2022 in Chandigarh, India.

Saba Qamar, who plays the lead role in Kamli, won the IVIFF 2022 Best Actress trophy for her performance. Kamli revolves around a woman’s struggle between loyalty to long-missing husband and her carnal desires. Besides Qamar, the critically and commercially acclaimed Pakistani movie starred Sania Saeed, Nimra Bucha and debutant Hamza Khawaja.

The film received immense appreciation after its release in Pakistan and had a full-house throughout its run in cinemas across the country.

Speaking of Pakistani cinema getting recognition abroad, Qamar told Arab News in an earlier interview: “Our dramas are popular beyond borders but films like The Legend of Maula Jatt, Kamli and Joyland represent the best of Pakistani cinema abroad.”

Joyland




This image released by Khoosat Films shows a scene from the film "Joyland." (Photo courtesy: Khoosat Films via AP)

Joyland, Pakistan’s official entry for the upcoming Academy Awards, made the most headlines this year. The movie first got critical acclaim in May after it won the Cannes “Queer Palm” prize for the best feminist-themed movie as well as the Jury Prize in the “Un Certain Regard” competition, a segment focusing on young, innovative cinema talent.

Joyland left Cannes audiences slack-jawed and admiring, and got a nearly 10-minute-long standing ovation from the opening night’s crowd.

The movie released across Pakistan, except the Punjab province, on November 18, after much speculation at home. While makers continue to fight for its release in the most populous Pakistani province, the film is headed to Sundance Film Festival 2023 that will take place from January 19 till January 29.

Besides, Joyland also screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, where it won the ‘Best Film’ from the subcontinent for 2022. Among other international festivals, the movie had its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year.

The Legend of Maula Jatt




This handout picture shows the movie poster of Pakistan's Punjabi film "The Legend of Maula Jatt" released in October 2022. (Photo courtesy: Online)

Bilal Lashari’s long-awaited cinematic outing, The Legend of Maula Jatt broke all previous box office records for any Pakistani movie, not just at home but across the globe. Besides Pakistan, the film released in the Middle East, the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

A reboot of the 1979 cult classic, Maula Jatt, the Punjabi action film starred Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Hamza Ali Abbasi in key roles. Touted as the most expensive film in Pakistan’s history, the film crossed the budget of almost 50 crores ($2.2 million), including marketing and advertising, according to the film’s distributor Nadeem Mandviwalla.

The film’s plot revolves around Maula Jatt, a fierce prizefighter with a tortured past who seeks vengeance against his arch nemesis, Noori Natt, considered the most feared warrior in Punjab.

According to official numbers, the film crossed the figure of 200 crores ($8.8 million) worldwide, while it crossed 95 crores ($4.2 million) in Pakistan as of December 19.

Sandstorm




This still from the Pakistani short film Sandstorm, released in September 2021, shows the protagonist Zara sitting in an empty classroom. (Photo courtesy: YouTube/Seemab Gul)

Pakistan director Seemab Gul’s short film, Sandstorm won big at Oscar-qualifying festivals, HollyShorts and the Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) 2022. Sandstorm emerged as one of the top three winners at HollyShorts 2022, while it won the Best Live Action title at RIIFF 2022.

The short film had its world premiere at the 78th edition of the Venice Film Festival in September 2021. Since then, it has made it to nearly 50 festivals worldwide, including the prestigious Sundance Film Festival and Ischia Film Festival (IFF) in 2022, where it bagged three trophies.

Written and directed by London-based filmmaker Gul, Sandstorm revolves around a schoolgirl in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, who shares a dance video with a boy she meets online. The story takes a sinister turn, when the boy blackmails her with the video.

“It is wonderful to represent Pakistan and most importantly, a female story from the female perspective, which is actually rare in the mainstream industry,” Gul told Arab News in an interview in August.

The filmmaker is now eyeing the Oscars’ shortlist, for which only 10 films will be selected by the end of January. Out of these 10, only five are nominated for the award.


Brad Pitt’s F1 The Movie to premiere in Abu Dhabi this June

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Brad Pitt’s F1 The Movie to premiere in Abu Dhabi this June

ABU DHABI: Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 film will return to Abu Dhabi for its regional premiere on June 25, ahead of its official Middle East release on June 26.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, F1 The Movie was partly shot at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year.

The Apple Original Films production follows fictional former driver Sonny Hayes (Pitt) as he returns to Formula 1 decades after a career-ending crash, teaming up with a struggling race team and a hotshot rookie played by Damson Idris.

The cast and crew will return to Abu Dhabi for the red-carpet premiere after filming 29 days across the emirate, including at Yas Marina Circuit and Zayed International Airport. The production involved 284 local crew members and 15 interns, supported by local partner Epic Films and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s rebate scheme.

Mohamed Dobay, of the Creative Media Authority, called the return “a fitting closing moment” to a project that has made a significant impact on Abu Dhabi’s creative economy. The film is one of 180 major productions supported by the Abu Dhabi Film Commission since 2013.


Art Basel to launch new fair in Qatar

Updated 43 min 28 sec ago
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Art Basel to launch new fair in Qatar

  • Sheikha Al-Mayassa is leading the initiative in Doha
  • Builds on ‘thriving ecosystem of culture and sports’

DUBAI: Art Basel is set to launch a new edition of its globally renowned fair in Qatar, scheduled for February 2026 in Doha.

Announced on Tuesday, the inaugural Art Basel Qatar is a joint partnership between the organization’s parent company MCH Group, Qatar Sports Investments, and QC+, a cultural commerce collective.

The fair will be held at M7 and the Doha Design District in Msheireb, at the heart of the city’s creative quarter.

It promises a tightly curated showcase of leading modern and contemporary art galleries, spotlighting talent from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and beyond.

The initiative builds on Qatar’s long-term cultural vision, championed by Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums.

“We have built a thriving ecosystem of culture and sports … and are pleased to welcome the Art Basel organization as our partner,” she said.

The project follows Qatar’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup and aims to further position the nation as a hub for arts, sports, and tourism.

QSI’s Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi called the partnership “part of the legacy” of the World Cup and a new chapter in QSI’s investment in culture.

Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz said the initiative “supports artists and galleries and develops new collecting audiences,” while MCH Group CEO Andrea Zappia added that it “will attract art buyers and fans from the region and all over the world.”

Art Basel Qatar will be the fifth fair in the Art Basel portfolio, joining editions in Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Paris.


Elyanna to perform at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts

Updated 55 min 26 sec ago
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Elyanna to perform at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts

  • Elyanna known for mix of Arab, Western beats
  • Concerts to feature some of world’s top stars

DUBAI: Palestinian Chilean singer Elyanna will perform at this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After-Race Concerts on Dec. 5 at the Etihad Park on Yas Island.

The young star is expected to sing some of her most popular tracks, including “Ghareeb Alay,” “Mama Eh” and her Arabic rendition of “La Vie en Rose.”

Her performance is a part of the Yasalam After-Race concerts, held alongside the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, one of the UAE’s biggest entertainment and sporting weekends.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Yasalam (@yasalamae)

Elyanna joins a high-profile lineup of artists already announced for the four-night concert series, including Benson Boone on Dec. 4, Post Malone on Dec. 5, Metallica on Dec. 6 and Katy Perry on Dec. 7.

Access to the concerts is exclusive to Formula 1 ticket holders, with each night set to feature large-scale performances at the open-air Etihad Park.

Meanwhile, Elyanna has been normalizing Arabic lyrics in the Western world, taking inspiration from artists including Lana Del Ray and Beyonce, as well as Middle Eastern legend Fayrouz.

The Los Angeles-based singer’s music is a mix of Arab and Western beats, which she attributes to her multicultural upbringing.

Elyanna has built a strong relationship with British rock giants Coldplay, collaborating with them on the song “We Pray” and joining them on stage in multiple cities, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Barcelona and Paris.

One of her standout appearances was during Coldplay’s four-night concert series in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, part of their “Music of the Spheres” world tour.

In April, Coldplay announced that Elyanna had again teamed up with the band to release a new version of “Ma Meilleure Ennemie,” a track originally performed by Belgian artist Stromae and French singer Pomme.

The reimagined version is featured on the extended soundtrack for season two of “Arcane,” the popular Netflix animated series based on the League of Legends universe.

The extended soundtrack features a star-studded lineup, including Twenty One Pilots, Stray Kids, King Princess, and D4vd.


Spanish, Belgian broadcasters say Eurovision televoting ‘encourages manipulation’ after Israel’s result at contest

Updated 20 May 2025
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Spanish, Belgian broadcasters say Eurovision televoting ‘encourages manipulation’ after Israel’s result at contest

  • Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael unexpectedly came in second place
  • ‘A system in which everyone can cast up to 20 votes is a system that encourages manipulation,’ says Flemish parliamentarian

LONDON: Spanish and Belgian broadcasters have accused Eurovision Song Contest organizers of “encouraging manipulation” after the Israeli contestant won their public vote and came second in the 2025 competition.

RTVE, Spain’s public broadcaster, and the Flemish VRT have filed complaints with the European Broadcasting Union, the organizer, requesting an investigation into last week’s televoting system results.

Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael unexpectedly came in second place after Austria’s JJ, who won Eurovision with 436 points with his song “Wasted Love.”

Raphael, who was at the Nova Music Festival in southern Israel when Hamas attacked on Oct. 7, 2023, earned 357 combined points from the jury and public at the Eurovision final on May 17. Her result included 12 points, each awarded by the televoters in Spain and Belgium, despite the countries’ juries giving Israel a score of zero.

The Eurovision televoting system allows viewers to vote up to 20 times for a small fee charged for each vote via text or phone call. Each country’s contestant can earn a maximum of 12 points from either a jury or the public vote. To ensure fairness, contestants do not receive points from their own countries.

Katia Segers, a Flemish parliamentarian, said: “A system in which everyone can cast up to 20 votes is a system that encourages manipulation.

“Whether this manipulation occurred in our country and all other participating and non-participating countries must be investigated.”

She added: “The VRT must take the lead in requesting this investigation, and in holding the debate on the televoting system within the EBU, and on Israel’s participation.”

It was Israel’s second year participating in Eurovision while its military forces continue ongoing attacks in the Gaza Strip, which have killed over 52,000 Palestinians since October 2023.

More than 70 former Eurovision participants earlier this month accused Israel’s public broadcaster KAN of being “complicit in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza” and demanded the exclusion of Tel Aviv from the European contest.

Last week’s final performance by Raphael in Basel, Switzerland, was disrupted by pro-Palestine protesters who attempted to storm the stage. The winner, Austria, will host the 2026 edition.

RTVE’s coverage of the event displayed for 16 seconds a black screen with white lettering in Spanish and English that read: “When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and Justice for Palestine.”

The message was perceived as a stance against Israel’s participation. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday called for Israel to be treated the same way as Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and to be banned from future contests.

Managing Director of Eurovision Martin Green confirmed that the organization was taking Spain and Belgium’s complaint “seriously.”

He said: “It is important to emphasize that the voting operation for the Eurovision Song Contest is the most advanced in the world and each country’s result is checked and verified by a huge team of people to exclude any suspicious or irregular voting patterns.

“An independent compliance monitor reviews both jury and public vote data to ensure we have a valid result. We remain in constant contact with all participating broadcasters of the Eurovision Song Contest and take their concerns seriously.”


The Smashing Pumpkins to make UAE debut this October

Updated 20 May 2025
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The Smashing Pumpkins to make UAE debut this October

DUBAI: Alternative rock icons The Smashing Pumpkins are set to perform in the UAE for the first time, with a one-night-only concert at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on Thursday Oct. 9, 2025. The show is part of the band’s global “Rock Invasion 2025” tour and marks their  Middle East debut.

Led by founding member Billy Corgan, with longtime bandmates James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin, the Chicago-born group will deliver a setlist spanning their three-decade career. Fans can expect to hear beloved classics such as “1979,” “Tonight, Tonight,” and “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” alongside newer tracks like “Beguiled” and “Empires.”

The Abu Dhabi stop is the final leg of their regional tour, which also includes performances in Tokyo, Seoul, Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, and Bahrain. The tour follows the release of their ambitious rock opera “ATUM” and their latest album “Aghori Mhori Mei,” released in late 2024.

Tickets for the Etihad Arena show go on sale through Live Nation Middle East, with artist and presale tickets available starting May 21, and general public sales opening on May 23 at 12 pm.