LEF documentary on Power loom workers selected for Berlin Film Festival‏

Labour Education Foundation’s documentary “Rise of the Oppressed” on power loom workers of Faisalabad directed by Ammar Aziz has been selected for Berlin Film Festival. Ammar Aziz is in Berlin these days for the event. This film has been selected among few from over 4300 entries from 137 countries. Below are two pieces and their links published in the newspapers here. This documentary will be shown at six different times during the festival.

We will have a detailed press conference in this regard after Ammar’s return to Pakistan.

Here is the link to documentary; http://www.lef.org.pk/labour%20voices%20new.htm

Pak documentary nominated for Berlin film festival

A documentary, made by a young film-maker and activist Ammar Aziz has been selected at the Talent Campus of the Berlin International Film Festival2012 which is one of the world’s leading film-related events. Ammar Aziz, the only filmmaker to be selected from Pakistan, was chosen from over 4300 applicants from 137 countries.

The documentary, ‘Rise of the Oppressed’ is a striking realistic portrayal of the life and struggle of the power-loom workers of Faisalabad which takes us into their dark and dusky lives. Produced by a non-government labour organisation, Labor Education Foundation, it reflects the miseries, oppression and exploitation of the working class while it also celebrates their hopes and struggle for a society free of exploitation. The film was also screened in Brussels, Belgium at an event of SOLIDAR, a European network of 52 NGOs, where the Labour Education Foundation was awarded with the Silver Rose Award for 2011.

To his credit, Ammar Aziz has made various documentaries on social issues which have been screened at various film and cause-related events all over the world. His interests include music and he was featured in the band Laal’s recent hit ‘Inqalab’ as a composer, vocalist and director. The 23 year old film-maker was recently included in the international Christian Science Monitor’s ’30 under 30’ people from all over the world for his art and activism. Ammar will be representing Pakistan’s leftist cultural activists in the Berlin International Film Festival which is going to take place in Germany’s capital from 11th- 17th February.

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/entertainment/28-Jan-2012/pak-documentary-nominated-for-berlin-film-festival

Ammar Aziz: A progressive Pakistani voice

A documentary, made by a film-maker and activist Ammar Aziz has been selected at the Talent Campus of the Berlin International Film Festival 2012 which is one of the world’s leading film-related events. Aziz, the only filmmaker to be selected from Pakistan, was chosen from over 4300 applicants from 137 countries. The documentary, ‘Rise of the Oppressed’ is a strikingly realistic portrayal of the life and struggle of the power-loom workers of Faisalabad which takes us into their dark lives. Produced by a non-government labour organisation, Labour Education Foundation, it reflects the miseries, oppression and exploitation of the working class while it also celebrates their hopes and struggle for a society free of exploitation. The film was also screened in Brussels, Belgium at an event of SOLIDAR, a European network of 52 NGOs, where the Labour Education Foundation was awarded with the Silver Rose Award for 2011. To his credit, Ammar Aziz has made various documentaries on social issues which have been screened at various film and cause-related events all over the world. His interests include music and he contributed to Laal band’s recent hit ‘Inqalab’ as a composer, vocalist and director. The 23 year old film-maker was recently included in the international Christian Science Monitor’s ’30 under 30’ people from all over the world for his art and activism. Ammar will be representing Pakistan’s leftist cultural activists in the Berlin International Film Festival which is going to take place in Germany’s capital from 11th- 17th February.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/01/ammar-aziz-a-progressive-pakistani-voice/