CHONGQING, July 3 (TNF): Pakistani feature film Nayab, starring Yumna Zaidi, has been officially selected for competition at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Film Festival 2025, its director Umair Nasir Ali announced.
The festival is set to run from July 3 to 7 in the Yongchuan district of Chongqing, marking the SCO Film Festival’s return to China after a seven-year break since its first edition in Qingdao in 2018, China Daily reported during a press briefing.
Sharing the news on Instagram, Ali expressed pride in Nayab’s inclusion in what he described as a “major cultural and diplomatic event” held alongside the SCO Summit in China. He credited the Government of Pakistan for its support in making this possible.
“The SCO is among the world’s largest intergovernmental alliances, comprising Pakistan, China, Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan,” Ali noted. “While political and economic cooperation remain central, this year’s summit spotlights media diplomacy, regional storytelling, and cultural exchange—with cinema at the heart of it.”
In a follow-up post, Ali shared his deep connection to the project, writing, “Nayab — it will always remain special to us. For what it is. For where it continues to go.”
The festival coincides with the 130th anniversary of world cinema and 120 years of Chinese cinema. Organizers aim to promote the civilizational values of SCO member states—equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusivity—through film as a universal artistic language, China Daily said.
Over five days, the festival will host 11 activities, including a film awards gala, screenings, a cooperation forum, tech exhibits, an outdoor market, and a concert. Both the opening and closing ceremonies are scheduled at the massive Yongchuan Technology Studio, China’s largest digital production hub, which uses virtual technology throughout filmmaking.
The festival will conclude on July 7 with a red carpet event at the studio’s 3,000-square-metre virtual filming facility. A total of 10 awards, including Best Feature and Best Director, will be presented, with renowned filmmaker Ren Zhonglun serving as jury president.
So far, 27 films from SCO nations have been submitted for screening at cinemas in downtown Chongqing and Yongchuan. Directors from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, and Mongolia will present their works at the festival.
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