ISLAMABAD, October 12 (NNP): Pakistani independent films Lali, The Last Glance and How to Kill Your Hunger? have earned recognition through international film festivals, drawing attention to local filmmakers and stories rooted in the country’s social and cultural realities.

Directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, Lali received the Special Jury Prize and the Best Sound Design Award at the 2026 Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF) in Mississauga, Canada. The festival ran from September 30 to October 4 and showcased feature-length and short films from several countries. The film had earlier made its debut at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2026, according to published festival coverage.

The Last Glance, directed by Kamran Faiq, won the Best International Short Film award at the same Canadian festival. The 13-minute film follows a family attempting to escape violence in their village. Their journey towards safety takes a difficult turn at a remote police checkpoint, where they face a choice involving personal survival and competing loyalties.

Another Pakistani production, How to Kill Your Hunger?, received recognition at the 2026 Gandhara Independent Film Festival, held at the National Academy of Performing Arts in Karachi from October 2 to 4.

Directed by Mehroz Amin, the 12-minute short won the Best Screenplay award at the festival. Actor Adnan Shah Tipu was also named Best Actor (Male) for his performance in the film, according to the festival’s published awards announcements.

The story centres on a financially struggling middle-aged man who depends on leftover food. When he revisits a restaurant associated with happier memories, the experience confronts him with the distance between his past and present circumstances.

The three films explore different aspects of life and society. Lali combines Punjabi folklore, dark comedy and superstition in a story about a woman whose previous suitors’ deaths lead others to regard her as cursed. The Last Glance examines the difficult choices facing a family escaping violence, while How to Kill Your Hunger? addresses poverty, deprivation and human dignity.

Their festival recognition adds to the international exposure Pakistani independent filmmakers have received in recent years. It also highlights the range of stories being developed beyond mainstream commercial productions, from culturally specific narratives to socially grounded short films.

As these productions reach audiences through international festivals, they are providing further opportunities for Pakistani filmmakers and performers to present their work to viewers outside the country.

Editorial source note: Background material was drawn from Fuchsia Magazine’s feature, “Pakistani Indie Cinema Is Having A Moment: 3 Short Films To Know About,” published October 10, 2026. The report has been independently restructured and the principal festival-award claims cross-checked against published coverage and festival announcements.

Editorial verification and publication notes

The recent awards for Lali and The Last Glance are corroborated by Dawn Images’ October 5 report on MISAFF.Images The How to Kill Your Hunger? awards are listed in the Gandhara Independent Film Festival’s announcements, while the festival website confirms the 2026 event dates and selection.LinkedIn

Original source for editorial reference: Fuchsia Magazine — “Pakistani Indie Cinema Is Having A Moment: 3 Short Films To Know About”.FUCHSIA