Chongqing – Pakistan's film delegation expressed fervent enthusiasm for regional cooperation at Chongqing's 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Film Festival. Despite a grueling 21-hour journey from Islamabad and Karachi, the delegation, led by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairperson Samina Farzin, emphasized their commitment to strengthening cultural ties through cinema.

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairperson Samina Farzin led Pakistan's film delegation at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Film Festival in Chongqing. (Photo/Bridget Yang)

​Call for cross-border platforms​

Samina Farzin spotlighted the critical need for an SCO-wide digital distribution framework. "Our films and dramas rarely reach China, our closest ally, due to language barriers and fragmented distribution," she noted. The delegation revealed that Pakistan's acclaimed drama Coke Studio and recent hits like The Legend of Maula Jatt remain virtually unseen in SCO markets. Farzin proposed a dedicated SCO streaming platform to showcase regional content alongside streamlined dubbing initiatives. "When emotions are universal, language shouldn’t isolate our stories," she asserted.​

Both filmmakers and officials highlighted concrete collaboration avenues. Director Umair Nasir Ali envisioned a "cinematic bazaar" where SCO nations combine strengths: "Imagine Pakistani narratives with Chinese production scale or Iranian screenwriting prowess." Producer Irfan Malik identified technical synergy, noting China’s post-production and AI leadership: "Pakistan lacks advanced facilities – our films are processed in Singapore. Collaborating here accelerates our growth."

Pakistan producer Irfan Malik shared his opinion. (Photo/Bridget Yang)

Ali added that script exchanges, co-productions, and university partnerships could build grassroots connections, while Farzin advocated for biannual SCO training workshops to supplement the festival’s impact.

​AI debate: tool vs. artistry​

The delegation's heated AI discussion revealed fundamental tensions. Producer Irfan Malik positioned artificial intelligence as non-negotiable: "China leads this revolution – Pakistan lacks AI infrastructure entirely. Most high-budget films go to Singapore for post-production." He emphasized concrete collaboration: "We require GPU access, server farms, and capacity building. SCO workshops could fast-track Pakistan’s technical parity."

Director Umair Nasir Ali countered with artistic reservations. Comparing AI to the digital camera revolution, he acknowledged its inevitability but warned, "Prompt-generated visuals gratify superficially, yet starve creative souls. Green screen replacements help efficiency but erode authenticity – actors become coordinates in a data map." Ali advocated balanced adoption: "Like classical painting coexisting with digital art, AI should expand – not replace – human storytelling."

Both agreed that SCO nations must jointly address AI ethics. Malik stressed collective infrastructure: "China’s rendering farms and Pakistan’s cost-effective studios could merge strengths." Ali proposed writer-director labs to preserve narrative integrity: "Emotions unite our cultures. Technology should amplify – not algorithmize – that humanity."

​Forward momentum

Ali concluded optimistically: "SCO's shared landscapes and histories can birth cinematic magic. Let’s start co-writing tomorrow." As Pakistan showcases its films White Ant and Nayab at the festival, the delegation aims to turn dialogue into action, beginning with digital distribution and technical alliances.

Pakistan's featured film Nayab.