After the fiasco that local films faced with regards to their screening times being allotted to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there has been a major development in the situation as reported by Dawn Images (by Mohammad Kamran Jawaid) in favor of the filmmakers involved in local releases.
Sindh High Court Order
The Sindh High Court has ordered that local films get 85% of playing time at Pakistani cinemas, with foreign cinemas being allowed 15% of the exhibition space.
According to the high court order, foreign releases must comply by rules of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979, which states that internationally produced films screening in Pakistan can be allowed 15% screen space of locally created films are screening as well.
The order states that the defendants must follow the rules of the Motion Picture Ordinance “strictly in letter and spirit” and to provide 85% exhibition time to Pakistani films till the next date of hearing on June 2.
Plaintiffs In The Case
The Sindh High Court suits numbering 754, 754 and 755 have Cereal Entertainment (Adnan Siddiqui and Akhter Hasnain), Wajahat Rauf and Shazia Wajahat, and Farid Nawaz Productions (Yasir Nawaz and Nida Yasir) as plaintiffs, for their films Dum Mastam, Parde Mein Rehne Do and Chakkar respectively.
Defendants In The Case
The defendants in the suits are as follows: the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Central Board of Film Censors, Punjab Film Censor Board, Sindh Board of Film Censors, Competition Commission of Pakistan, J.B. Films, Nueplex Cinemas, Cinepax Cinemas, Cinegold Cinemas, HKC Entertainment and the Karachi District South deputy commissioner.
Filmmakers Call For Compensation
Filmmakers called for compensation in the face of damages the films and makers faced with the distribution of screen time, of which the relevant teams have been vocal about on social media.
What Happens Next?
While chaos has already ensued for local films in the wake of the release of Doctor Strange, this ruling may prove beneficial (if gone unchallenged) for upcoming local releases such as Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad and London Nahi Jaunga. Moreover, while the Marvel film has amassed big figures at the box office, upcoming foreign releases such as The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Memory, and Top Gun: Maverick stand to potentially be impacted by this decision.
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