Islamabad, June 30, 2026: Pakistani filmmakers have been invited to participate in the new season of the Open Eurasian Film Award Diamond Butterfly, providing the country’s film industry with another opportunity to showcase its productions on an international platform and strengthen creative and industry collaborations.
The award, initiated by acclaimed Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov, is organized under the auspices of the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Russian Cultural Foundation. It aims to promote international cooperation in cinema while recognizing films that highlight traditional human values and preserve cultural and historical heritage.
Pakistan has been associated with the Eurasian Film Academy and the Diamond Butterfly Awards since their inception. During the project’s presentation in Moscow in April 2025, a Pakistani delegation joined representatives from more than 20 countries to discuss the initiative’s future.
At the event, Muhammad Anwar, representing Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, expressed hope that the award would emerge as an alternative international platform for countries whose artistic voices often receive limited global recognition.
Pakistan also participated in the international film workshop “Creativity Unites,” jointly organized by the Russian Cultural Foundation and the Innopractice School at the Mikhalkov Academy of Cinematic and Theatrical Arts. Pakistani filmmaker Mehroz Amin was among ten young directors from eight countries who collaborated on short films under the mentorship of leading Russian cinema professionals.
The inaugural Diamond Butterfly Awards ceremony was held in Moscow on November 27, 2025, with 34 films from 17 countries competing for honors.
Pakistan was represented by two films: Termites, a Pakistan-Canada co-production, and Love Guru, produced jointly by Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
A major achievement for Pakistan came when actress Sonya Hussyn received the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in Termites. The award was presented by Russian actor Sergey Bezrukov.
During her acceptance speech, Sonya Hussyn thanked the organizers and the Government of the Russian Federation for their hospitality and dedicated her award to girls and women in Pakistan striving for education and equal opportunities.
The second edition of the Diamond Butterfly Awards will be held in Moscow later this year.
According to the organizers, the award seeks to reaffirm cinema’s role in promoting universal human values and preserving cultural identity. Its motto is, “Any truth without love is a lie.”
The Diamond Butterfly trophy, designed by Russian artist Yuri Kuper, is adorned with nearly 5,000 diamonds. In addition to the statuette, winners receive valuable Yakut diamonds, with the Best Film recipient awarded a diamond valued at the equivalent of US$1 million, while winners in other major categories each receive diamonds worth approximately US$250,000.
With its successful participation in the inaugural edition and Sonya Hussyn’s award-winning performance, Pakistan has established a notable presence in the Diamond Butterfly Awards. The launch of the new season offers Pakistani filmmakers another opportunity to gain international recognition, strengthen cultural exchanges, and expand their presence in the global film community.
