Film students from London Metropolitan University have launched a series of short films, raising awareness of pressing social issues in Pakistan.
Film students from London Metropolitan University have launched a series of short films, raising awareness of pressing social issues in Pakistan.
The students from We Make Films, the in-house production company at The Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, teamed up with the Royal Society of the Arts and The Samosa website – all as part of the Pakistan Calling initiative.
Pakistan Calling is intended to build links between Pakistani social projects, the British Pakistani diaspora and social entrepreneurs in the UK.
The films include exclusive interviews with Channel 4’s Jon Snow, BBC’s Almeena Ahmed on how Pakistan is covered in the media, and the work of welfare and education groups, arts organisations, women and civil rights activists.
During research for the films, students met people and organisations in the UK that work regularly in Pakistan.
Senior Lecturer on the BA Film and Broadcast Production course Charlotte Worthington said it was another invaluable opportunity for We Make Films to work with real clients – in addition to the 35-film project the group is carrying out for the Bank of England.
“This is great for students because of the profile of the RSA. We hope this leads to more companies expressing a desire to work with our students,” she said.
It is hoped the films will highlight positive developments in Pakistani society and challenge damaging perceptions of the country.
The films will be available, along with those produced by students in Pakistan, on the Royal Society of the Arts website.
The Cass and We Make Films will develop this pioneering programme and produce a new range of films which expand on these themes in the next academic year – looking at links between Britain and Pakistan.
If you wish to contribute or be involved in Pakistan Calling visit www.thersa.org/pkcalling.
As well as London Metropolitan University, Pakistan Calling is supported by The University of Karachi, Beacon House University Lahore, SZABIST, Dawn.com and UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.