An 18-minute short film titled Kalashnikov is creating a buzz, due to it making it to Cannes. In conversation with the mind behind the screenplay and direction, Mehroz Amin, we shed light on what Kalashnikov is all about.
Cast And Team
As mentioned above, Mehroz Amin has penned down the screenplay and has directed the short film as well. The cast includes Hamza Ghuyyur, (who has also penned down dialogues for the film) alongside other actors such as Afifa Shaikh, Nadir Sultan, and Mian Ayyaz. The film has been made under the banner of an independent production house called Chal Phir Cinema.
Storyline
The film is an 18 minute one take shot that follows the stories of the middle of a night where a young boy is selling eggs, a woman is rehearsing in a street corner, and a washed-up actor is giving an interview, reminiscing the golden era of Punjabi films – the 80s.
Kalashnikov And Cannes
Talking to Galaxy Lollywood about the journey to Cannes, Mehroz Amin states the following: “It’s a big struggle to make an independent film in Pakistan, and the biggest struggle is the financial aid.”
Explaining how Mehroz always wanted to make his family and country proud, he illustrates how Cannes is every filmmaker’s dream destination. However, there were budgetary constraints that had to be overcome. Moreover, participating in the primary competition became difficult due to the duration of the film. The short film corner served as a saving grace, where the film was eventually submitted.
“I didn’t have the money to pay,” reminisces Mehroz, regarding the submission fee, “so we, as a team, collected the money, which was around €55.”
Making Pakistan Proud
Kalashnikov is the only Pakistani short film this year at Cannes, amidst nine short films from India in the Short Film Corner. Undoubtedly, this is a moment of pride for Pakistan, and we would like to congratulate the entire team for this feat.
