U.S. Ambassador Richard G. Olson spoke at the opening of the second American Film Showcase in Pakistan, an Embassy-sponsored film festival being held this year at Fatima Jinnah Park’s Aiwan-e-Quaid auditorium. From May 23 to June 3, American filmmakers will participate in a series of film festivals, host workshops to share best practices with Pakistani filmmakers, and chair roundtable discussions with their counterparts in the Pakistani film industry. The visit is being conducted in partnership with Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts and the 60 Second International Film Festival, a project by Morango Films.
In his remarks, Ambassador Olson noted, “Beyond sharing information about our societies, the entertainment industries of both our countries mean real dollars and cents for our respective economies. To compete in the global entertainment market, a strong foundation of filmmakers and experts is a necessity. The American Film Showcase will have a lasting, positive impact on Pakistan’s economy and cultural heritage.”
The American Film Showcase is the U.S. government’s premier American film diplomacy program, which organizes film screenings and workshops with American filmmakers around the world. Based at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, the program has visited 67 countries, screened 117 films, and reached more than 10,000 participants over the past three years.
The U.S. government invests more than $30 million each year in cultural programs that promote the visual and performing arts, women’s empowerment, and entrepreneurship.
For more information about the American Film Showcase and similar U.S. government-sponsored programs, please visithttp://americanfilmshowcase.usc.edu/ andhttp://exchanges.state.gov/us/program/american-film-showcase.
