The recent announcement of shortlists in 10 categories by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has heightened anticipation for the 96th Oscars ceremony. According to Variety, Greta Gerwig's inventive meta-comedy Barbie led, earning five mentions in various categories. These include recognition in sound, original song submissions by notable artists such as Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson, and Andrew Wyatt, along with an original score from the latter duo.
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Furthermore, Variety reported that the international feature category witnessed some expected contenders cutting, albeit with minimal surprises. Notable entries such as the U.K.’s The Zone of Interest and Spain’s Society of the Snow maintained their positions. However, the absence of two notable entries, Romania’s Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World and Chile’s The Settlers, did not go unnoticed. Most notably, Pakistan's official entry, In Flames, failed to secure a spot in the shortlist.
The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee (PASC) determined Pakistan’s official submission for Oscar consideration. The chosen film to represent Pakistan was director Zarrar Kahn and producer Anam Abbas’s chilling horror feature. The offering, which premiered at the Cannes Directors' Fortnight, is set in Karachi and unfolds a haunting tale. Following the demise of their family head, a mother and daughter grapple with disrupted lives, tormented by both tangible and spectral entities. Their bond becomes their sole solace against the ominous forces encircling them.
Anam Abbas served as the producer alongside executive producers Shant Joshi, Todd Brown, and Maxime Cottray. The film earned a place in XYZ’s New Visions lineup, marking their association with the project in the preceding year.
