Telecast on Aag TV and screening in London
Talking Faith was recently broadcasted on Aag TV, a television channel for youth in Pakistan on 18 and 19 June, 09. The telecast was part of the National Short Film Competition organised by British High Commission, London International Documentary Festival (LIDF) and Geo Television Network. Talking Faith was one of the three films to be selected as part of this initiative called “filmmaking for social change”. The project was to support young and upcoming filmmakers addressing social issues by providing them airspace on national television with an extensive audience in the country. As a follow up to this, Talking Faith was also screened at LIDF in London along with other international documentaries on 1 April, 09. Comments about Talking Faith and other screened films can be made on LIDF’s feedback page here.
I am shocked to read this explanation.Geo is considered to be one of the most progressive, brave and bold channel. Since I have seen this documentary in Vaskh Film Festival Lahore and Kara Film Festival in Karachi and I have seen the other films screened on AAG I am surprised.
Talking Faith had sensitive contents is a big question Mark for me. Did this film have more sensitive contents than Alim On Line where a Moulvi was interviewed after rapping a young child? Was it more sensitive than the footage of a girl flogged, the screams and violence shown was enough to give a heart attack. Was that more sensitive than the footages shown on GEO after suicidal attacks?
If a film promoting Interfaith Dialogue with interviews of famous religious leaders and annalists, sharing life of two friends of different religious background, promoting harmony and unity of a society branded as terrorist is sensitive to be shared and shown on screen then we need to redefine what liberalism is and what freedom of expression is.
Governments are not rigid but the policies with in the channels also have double standards. We pretend to be progressive and liberal but when the skin is sheded, a typical, conservative monster comes out that stinks with dualism and fake progressivism
I congratulate you Ms.Naveen for touching a sensitive issue in a polite and professional way and showing the positive side of religious communities of Pakistan
The fact that Geo/Aag felt they were unable to screen Talking Faith despite the films timely and hopeful message reveals that the ‘independent’ media in Pakistan is all too conscious of Pakistani society today. This self-censorship on the part of a respected news channel is all the more disappointing as the subtitle of the film is that “a dialogue is possible”. Hope the film gets further exposure and wider audiences both inside and outside Pakistan.