The inclusion of The Chronicles of Umro Ayyar at Cannes underscores the burgeoning talent and innovation within Pakistan's film industry.
The Pakistani film is based on traditional folklore, showcases the country’s rich cultural heritage through cutting-edge animation. This momentous occasion follows the Marché preview screening of the eagerly awaited The Glassworker, further propelling Pakistan's cinematic presence, a statement said.
Produced by Karachi-based Ingenuity Productions, the film is described on IMDb as an adventure fantasy inspired by the epic tale of Tilism-e-Hoshruba. It recounts the thrilling adventures of the legendary trickster hero Umro Ayyar as he traverses time and magical realms.
The film explores deeper themes that resonate with audiences of all ages. It highlights the quest for true connection and the triumph over selfishness, as Umro Ayyar’s journey emphasises the power of forging bonds that transcend racial, gender, class, age, and personality differences.
Ingenuity Productions said, “Our film's presence at the Cannes Film Market promises to captivate audiences, showcasing the rich storytelling and cinematic prowess emerging from Pakistan.”
Haris Basharat, Ingenuity Production’s CEO said, “We're confident that the film's stunning visuals and story will captivate audiences worldwide.” In addition to Umro Ayyar, the production house is also developing a 3D animated series titled Science Voyagers, which follows a curious boy on time-traveling adventures to meet history's scientific greats.
Besides, there are 22 films competing for the Palme d'Or — arguably film's most coveted award. More than 50 other films are also premiering outside of the main competition.
Perhaps the most attention-grabbing is Megalopolis, Francis Ford Coppola's first film in more than a decade. This sci-fi epic has been more than five decades in the making, and has a stacked cast that includes Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf and Dustin Hoffman.
Some notable premieres that are screening out of the Palme d'Or competition include opening night film The Second Act, a comedy starring Léa Seydoux and Louis Garrel, and Kevin Costner's Horizon: An American Saga, starring Costner, Sienna Miller and Australian Sam Worthington.
Emma Stone and Joe Alwyn star in Kinds of Kindness, which is made up of three distinct but loosely connected stories.(Supplied: The Walt Disney Company)
George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga will have its world premiere at the festival tomorrow. A prequel to 2015's Fury Road, it stars Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit) as the titular character previously played by Charlize Theron.
Shot in New South Wales, it also stars Chris Hemsworth, Charlee Fraser (Anyone but You), Angus Sampson and Quaden Bayles, a 13-year-old Murri boy who made his debut in Miller's 2022 film Three Thousand Years of Longing. Cannes audiences see the film slightly before we do, with the movie scheduled for an Australian cinematic release on Thursday May 23.
Also screening out of competition is The Surfer, an Irish Australian co-production directed by Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium), starring Nicolas Cage opposite an ensemble of Australian actors, including Julian McMahon and Miranda Tapsell. It was filmed entirely in Yallingup, a Western Australian town with a population of less than 2,000. Cage also appeared to venture around to some other WA towns, too.
