The Red Sea Film Festival 2023 is currently underway in Jeddah, attracting prominent figures from the global film industry. Making its world premiere on the grand screen at the festival, the Pakistani feature film “Wakhri — One of a Kind” took the spotlight with its cast and creators. The film is inspired by the life of Qandeel Baloch, a social media personality who tragically became a victim of honor killing a few years ago.
Director Iram Parveen Bilal praised Faryal Mehmood, who plays the leading role of an influencer in “Wakhri,” for delivering a powerful performance. Reflecting on the casting process, Iram emphasized Faryal’s suitability for the role, noting her experiences with online criticism. The director highlighted Faryal’s resilience in the face of social media trolling and her remarkable weight loss journey.
Recalling the moment she discovered Faryal for the film, Iram mentioned, “I still remember this, I was in LA scrolling through Instagram, and the casting director was putting out a list for outreach, and somehow Instagram pushed her (Faryal) profile to me.” This serendipitous discovery led Iram to consider Faryal for the role, and the casting director’s immediate endorsement solidified the choice.
Kaleem Aftab, the Head of International Programming at the Red Sea Film Fest, shared insights into why “Wakhri: One of a Kind” was selected for the festival. He expressed anticipation that the film, directed by Pakistani-US filmmaker Iram Bilal, would leave a strong impression. Aftab highlighted how the film addresses an incident in Pakistan, changing the narrative around it. Additionally, he mentioned the inclusion of Zarrar Kahn’s non-conventional horror film “In Flames” from Pakistan, which serves as Pakistan’s international Oscar contender and brings a unique genre to the festival.
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