Two Short Films Making International Waves
In recent years, a new wave of Pakistani filmmakers has begun to carve a space for themselves on the global cinematic map — one festival at a time. From Cannes to Toronto, and now Seattle to Sicily, Pakistani short films are increasingly being celebrated for their originality, emotional depth, and daring storytelling. The latest names to join this international roster are filmmakers Sheryar Ali and Suhail Ahmad, whose short films A Door to My Memory (Yaadan de Boohay) and Toxicity have garnered wide acclaim across film festivals in the United States, India, and Europe.
Their first project, A Door to My Memory (Yaadan de Boohay), premiered at the Tasveer Film Festival in Seattle, the only Oscar-qualifying South Asian film festival in the world. Written and directed by Sheryar Ali and produced by Suhail Ahmad, the film has been praised for its poignant exploration of memory, love, and loss. A rare Punjabi-language science fiction romantic drama, it boldly blends futuristic storytelling with deeply human emotions a combination that has resonated powerfully with global audiences.
Set in a dystopian world where people store their memories on external drives, the film follows Ashfaq, a 65-year-old man struggling to preserve the last fragments of his past as his memory device reaches full capacity. What begins as a sci-fi concept unfolds into an intimate meditation on the impermanence of life and relationships. Critics have hailed it as a “moving allegory on human fragility,” applauding its ability to merge cutting-edge themes with a traditional South Asian sensibility.
After its success in the United States, A Door to My Memory continued its winning streak across India, where it was officially selected at the Bollywood International Film Festival, the International Kolkata Short Film Festival, and the Global Taj International Film Festival, where it currently stands as a semi-finalist. Its growing festival circuit presence has underscored how Pakistani independent cinema is bridging linguistic and cultural divides through universal storytelling.
Parallel to this success story, the filmmakers’ second project, Toxicity, has also been making headlines. Co-directed by Suhail Ahmad and Sheryar Ali, the short film recently premiered at the Festival Internazionale Nebrodi Cinema Doc in Sicily, Italy. It was the only Pakistani film selected at the festival and went on to receive a “Menzione d’Onore” (Honourable Mention) from the jury for its compelling narrative.
Pakistani independent cinema is bridging linguistic and cultural divides through universal storytelling.
Toxicity takes on one of Pakistan’s most urgent environmental issues , the smog crisis through the lens of two young entrepreneurs determined to create clean energy solutions in a city gasping for air. The film is both a tribute to the resilience of youth and a call to action on climate change, showcasing how storytelling can inspire social responsibility.
After the international success of these two projects, Ali and Ahmad are now looking forward to releasing their films for local audiences in Pakistan. Their journey not only reflects the evolving identity of Pakistani cinema but also affirms that the country’s stories whether rooted in memory or the environment have a universal language of their own.
