Pakistani short film titled ‘1978’ has been selected to be premiere at Lacarno Film Fest in Switzerland. Directed and written by Hamza Bagash, the film will be part of the festival in August.

Taking to Instagram, Hamza announced the big news and wrote:  “I am thrilled to finally be able to announce that my secret film project, 1978, will be having its’ World Premiere in-competition at Locarno Film Festival 2020”.

“This is by far my most ambitious project. We built a disco. Recorded original songs. Non-actors. Making a film takes a village, but this one felt like it took an entire city. Which makes sense, since the film is about a city-Karachi- that no longer exists. A city that was once the “Paris of the East”, Hamza wrote in his post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CClS_FLpeyw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The film focused on a young Goan Christian rock star named Lenny D’Souza, who is struggling to reinvent himself while Pakistan’s society is changing drastically.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCxt9o4JF_7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Its plot is inspired by Norman D’Souza, a legendary Goan Christian rock star in Pakistan from the 70s. Hamza Bangash called him “Uncle Norman” affectionately and considered it a privilege to tell the story of lost culture inspired by Mr D’Souza’s experiences.

“1978” stars Muhammad Zeeshan as Lenny D’Souza, Rubya Chaudhry as Dina, theatre veteran Naveed Kamal as AJ, the disco manager, and Sherwyn Anthony as Thomas D’Souza. The film’s music is being provided by Clifford Lucas. The film has been produced by Carol Ann and written and directed by Hamza Bangash.

The film has already been nominated for the prestigious Pardino d’oro award for Best International Short Film and the Pardino d’argento as well while the Locarno Film Festival will take place from 5-15 August.