The Survivor (2016 film)
The Survivor is a 2016 Pakistani-American documentary short written and directed by Danial Afzal, of Arash Visuals, Inc, and produced by Shazia Sikandar and Kruti Mehta. The film follows the story of a boy named Muneeb who survived the Army Public School Massacre of 2014 in Peshawar, Pakistan.
| The Survivor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Danial Afzal |
| Produced by | Shazia Sikandar, Kruti Mehta |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Danial Afzal |
| Edited by | Sameer Hamdani |
Production companies | Arash Visuals, Inc |
| Distributed by | iflix |
Running time | 27 minutes |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Languages | English, Urdu |
Synopsis
The story follows Muhammad Muneeb Khan, who lost his brother, Shaheer, in a tragic incident that occurred in Peshawar, Pakistan on 16 December 2014. The Taliban attacked the Army Public School and killed over 130 children. This film is a look into the mind of Muneeb, who still suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) while attempting to find his purpose. The film's story is presented in the format of a personal statement for a college application. It also interviews his family members and Mowadat Rana, a psychiatrist and professor, who discusses the struggles of PTSD.
Screenings
The Survivor premiered in 2016 in Lahore, Pakistan. During 2017, it was entered into the 16th IWM Short Film Festival in London,[1] and the Ismailia International Film Festival in Cairo, Egypt.[2] In 2018, The Survivor was screened at the 11th International Children's Rights Film Festival in Dhaka, Bangladesh,[3] and the 1st Pakistan International Film Festival in Karachi.[4]
Reception
Mehr Sher of The Nation was moved to tears at the screening, and found the film to be a "must-watch film for all those that have a conscience".[5] Kruti Mehta of The News International wrote that the music made the documentary relatable to viewers, and thought that the director and producer effectively used the film as an actual personal statement to promote Muneeb Khan to get scholarships and funding for college.[6]
Awards
| Festival name | Edition | Festival location | Year | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Docs Documentary Film Festival | 14th | La Jolla, California, US | 2017 | Award of Recognition[7] |
| Chicago South Asian Film Festival | 9th | Chicago, Illinois, US | 2017 | Best Documentary Short[8] |
Gallery
Muneeb and his sisters being filmed by Danial
Muneeb with his father
Muneeb with sister, Tuba
Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2017 - Red Carpet
Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2017 - Red Carpet
Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2017 - Screening
Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2017 - Q & A Panel
Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2017 - Press Conference
Pakistan International Film Festival 2018
Pakistan International Film Festival 2018
References
- "IWM Short Film Festival 2017" (PDF). Imperial War Museums. 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- "Ismailia International Film Festival for Documentaries and Shorts". ismailiafilmfest.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- "The Survivor - Official Selection - 11th International Children's Film Festival Bangladesh 2018". International Children's Film Festival Bangladesh. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- "Pakistan International Film Festival Program Schedule". piffestival.com. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- Sher, Mehr (7 December 2016). "The Survivor: Immortalizing the APS victims". The Nation. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- Mehta, Kruti (29 September 2017). "Learning To Live Again". The News International. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- "Awards of Recognition July 2017". Impact Docs Awards. July 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- Bodiwala, Suresh (7 October 2017). "Shabana Azmi received Lifetime Achievement Award at The Chicago South Asian Film Festival". The Daily Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- "The Survivor". iflix. September 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.