Pakistanis win global award for film on drones

Islamabad, May 12 (IANS) A short film on the US drone attacks in Pakistan, made by students of Iqra University, has won an award at an international annual film festival held in the US.

The 20-minute film "The Other Side" was awarded the Best Audience Award at the National Film Festival For Talented Youth (NFFTY), held in Seattle.

The short film was written and directed by Danish Ali along with five other team members, Online news agency reported.

The film revolves around the idea of assessing social, psychological and economical affects of the US drone strikes on the people in the northwest tribal areas of Pakistan. It identifies the problems faced by families who have become victims of missiles fired by the drones.

This year alone, there has been more than 10 drone strikes, in which at least 83 people have been killed.

However, the filmmakers were unable to attend the award ceremony as their visa applications were rejected.

"If we had got the visa then it would have been easy for us to frame our point of view in front of the other selected youth filmmakers," Ali said.

The National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY), held annually in Seattle, showcases work by filmmakers aged 22 and under from across the world.

It was created in 2007 with the aim of becoming the most influential youth-oriented film festival in North America. The festival includes film screenings, filmmaking workshops and panels, concerts by youth bands, and a gala opening night.

It is organised by the Talented Youth -- a non-profit arts organisation that was founded in 2007 with NFFTY as its flagship programme.