Pakistani Films Deemak and Nayab Shine at SCO Film Festival 2025 in China 

Pakistan’s film industry marked a triumphant moment on the international stage as two outstanding entries, Deemak and Nayab, earned major recognition at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Film Festival, held from July 3–7 in Chongqing and Yangzhou, China.

Deemak Wins Best Editing

Directed by Rafay Rashdi and starring Faysal Quraishi, Sonya Hussyn, and Samina Peerzada, the horror‑drama Deemak clinched the Best Editing Award. The accolade, accepted by Rashdi and Hussyn on behalf of the film, highlights the movie’s tight narrative structure and atmospheric build-up—an achievement that speaks to Pakistani editors striving for international standards.

Entering the festival’s final day, the technical precision of Deemak—particularly its rhythmic pacing and visual coherence—stood out. In a genre where suspense hinges on timing, the editing crafted fear not through cheap jump scares but with tension and restraint, leaving both critics and audiences impressed.

Nayab Earns Special Jury Award

The sports drama Nayab, directed by Umair Nasir Ali and featuring Yumna Zaidi and Usama Khan, took home the festival’s Special Jury Award. The award was accepted by Ali and Khan, underlining the film’s emotional depth and storytelling finesse.

Downing cultural and genre boundaries, Nayab portrays the journey of a young woman in Karachi determined to break into cricket—a traditionally male terrain. It previously earned accolades at Cannes, securing Best Foreign Film and Best First-Time Filmmaker honors. Its Special Jury recognition at SCO Elevated Pakistan’s cinema by spotlighting powerful women-focused storytelling on a massive multilateral stage.

 Significance of Their Wins

These honors are more than just trophies—they’re a testament to Pakistani cinema’s rising quality:

• Technical excellence: Deemak’s editing demonstrates advanced production craft, even in a challenging low‑budget genre space.
• Narrative impact: Nayab layers sports drama, societal pressures, and female empowerment, signaling a departure from formulaic plots toward nuanced, socially relevant stories.
• Cultural diplomacy: Through these films, Pakistan showcased its cinematic evolution to SCO’s cultural allies, including China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, and more.

🇵🇰 What This Means for Pakistani Cinema

• Global visibility: Receiving awards at SCO amplifies visibility far beyond traditional film festivals, opening doors to co‑productions, distribution partnerships, and transnational collaborations.
• Confidence boost: Recognition affirms Pakistani filmmakers’ direction—embracing varied genres, strong editing, and character-led drama.
• Inspiration catalyst: Upcoming talent is encouraged to explore socially resonant, technically sound filmmaking like Deemak’s horror‑thriller approach or Nayab’s emotionally driven sports narrative.

In Summary:

Pakistan’s showing at SCO 2025 was nothing short of spectacular. Deemak emerged as a technical marvel, and Nayab struck a chord with its realistic portrayal of female ambition. Together, they signal a thrilling new era—one where Pakistani cinema is not just part of global conversation, but shaping it through quality, diversity, and storytelling courage.