The 10th edition of the Women International Film Festival concluded in Lahore, drawing a strong turnout and highlighting the growing interest in women-led independent cinema.
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Held over two days from February 14 to 15, 2026, the festival brought together filmmakers, students, artists and cinema enthusiasts at the Olympolo Theatre Head Office. The Lahore screenings were organised alongside the Islamabad edition, which has been held consistently for the past decade.
Organisers described this year’s participation as the city’s most significant engagement yet with contemporary artistic expression and independent filmmaking. The programme showcased short and feature films led by women directors selected from a competitive international pool, with nine films premiering on opening day and 23 screened overall.
The Lahore edition was produced by Bilqul under the leadership of British Pakistani filmmaker Annusheh Rahim, who attended the opening events. She emphasised that the festival’s mission has always been to amplify women’s voices in cinema and encourage dialogue rather than competition.
Rahim noted that no single theme was imposed this year, reflecting the diversity of women’s experiences across cultures and societies. Films ranged from five to twenty-five minutes in length and explored themes including identity, resilience and personal freedom, featuring directors from Pakistan, Iran, South Korea, Europe and other regions.
Panel discussions and interactive sessions addressed issues such as representation, censorship, funding challenges and gender barriers within the filmmaking industry. A key highlight was a conversation with Zenith Irfan, who discussed her film Motorcycle Girl and spoke about storytelling as a form of resistance in contemporary Pakistani society.
The festival atmosphere extended beyond film screenings, featuring a dance performance by Manal Amer Khan, along with food stalls and networking sessions that encouraged collaboration between emerging and established creatives.
Organisers believe the festival’s expansion into Lahore will strengthen independent cinema by connecting audiences and filmmakers across the country. Widely regarded as a growing cultural platform, the festival is the flagship initiative of Women Through Film, founded in Islamabad by Madeeha Raza, and is increasingly seen as an important addition to Lahore’s evolving arts landscape.
