IFFI 2017: Pakistani film Saawan dropped after being selected

Pakistani film Saawan, which was shortlisted for screening at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in the 'Cinema of the World' section, has been abruptly dropped by the organizers citing ‘scheduling constraints’.

Speaking to The Hindu newspaper, director Farhan Alam said, “I was excited to take part in the festival and share my film with an Indian audience. It would have been an honour and I was hoping to meet filmmakers from India as well as around the world.”

At the end of last month, Alam received an official letter from the festival about his film being selected for screening. Following this, he sent the DCP (digital cinema package) of the film to the organizers on their cost and applied for a visa. 

The sudden change has obviously disappointed the filmmaker. “It was heartbreaking to hear this news as I was looking forward to attend the festival,” he said.

Saawan is based on the true story of a child suffering from polio. Last year, two Pakistani films were sent for screening at IFFI 2016. But they were not selected as they ‘were not up to the mark’.