Karachi, July 7, 2025: Pakistani cinema continues to gain international acclaim, with two standout films, Deemak and Nayab, earning top honors at the prestigious Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival 2025, held in Yangzhou, China.
The five-day festival proved to be a milestone moment for the country’s film industry, showcasing its growing potential on the global stage after years of struggle and resurgence.
Deemak, a psychological horror film directed by Rafay Rashdi, won the Best Editing Award—a significant recognition for a genre rarely explored in Pakistani cinema. Already a box office success, Deemak has set a new benchmark as one of the most commercially and critically successful horror films in Pakistan’s cinematic history.
Director Rafay Rashdi celebrated the win on Instagram, expressing gratitude to the SCO Secretariat, the Government of Pakistan, and the Ministry of Information. “Pakistani cinema continues to rise!” he wrote, celebrating the moment with lead actress Sonya Hussyn, who played the role of Hiba and attended the festival alongside Rashdi. She also shared a celebratory selfie with the award, calling it “a proud moment for Pakistan.”
Written by Ayesha Muzzafar and featuring a powerful cast including Sonya Hussyn, Samina Peerzada, and Faysal Quraishi, Deemak has been lauded for its gripping narrative and production quality.
Meanwhile, Nayab, directed by Umair Nasir Ali and written by Ali Abbasi Naqvi and Basit Naqvi, was honored with the Special Jury Award. Selected from among 19 competing entries, the film won hearts with its inspiring story of a young middle-class girl’s quest to break barriers in the male-dominated world of cricket.
Starring Yumna Zaidi and Usama Khan, Nayab was widely praised for its emotional depth and socially resonant message.
Director Umair Nasir Ali shared his excitement online, calling it “a proud and emotional moment for Pakistani cinema.” He thanked everyone involved in the project and expressed hope for increased cross-border collaboration. “I hope this win helps open more doors for cooperation between filmmakers from Pakistan, China, and other SCO countries, so our stories continue to travel, connect, and inspire.”
With these achievements, Deemak and Nayab have not only raised the bar for Pakistani filmmaking but also reaffirmed the country’s place on the international cinematic map.
