Submissions at FILUMS are open in seven categories, namely Shorts, Feature Length, Documentary, Music Video, Animation and a bonus student category! There are two stages of scrutiny before the films received at the festival can claim awards. Each entry is initially examined to be shortlisted among the 100 best entries which are screened at the festival. These selected films are then forwarded to a
n external jury specially formulated for each category, and the final awards are given on the basis of judgment given by the judges who are experienced, well-acclaimed, and considered to be the best authority in their respective fields. One of the most important components of FILUMS is the workshops that are conducted by qualified professionals, many of whom have achieved a celebrity status. Such celebrities not only recount their learning experiences but also offer invaluable assistance in the form of well-seasoned advice. Workshops previously held at FILUMS have included a wide variety of topics, ranging from pre-production, post-production, film marketing to biographical accounts of members of the Pakistani Film Industry. We hope that such interactions will help several budding filmmakers and artists get access to bright opportunities in media and entertainment, while enabling others to find a direction to hone their creativity and skills. FILUMS, over the short traverse of its journey, has also seen success achieved in premiering professional and mainstream films during the festival. These films highlight what filmmakers in Pakistan and abroad are capable of, as FILUMS has consistently promoted them to large audiences from all over Pakistan. Over the years these premieres have grown in profile in terms of the stars from Lollywood that have previously attended them. FILUMS has had the honour of bringing to the Pakistani audience several renowned films, such as The Dusk, I Have a Dream, Children of the Taliban, Heal, Made in Pakistan, Kashf, Zibahkhana, Shanu Taxi, and Zinda Lash among others, and has seen big names such as Syed Noor, Bilal Lashari, Usman Peerzada, Rasheed Naz, and Reema Khan attending the festival. FILUMS continues to expand its horizons with each passing year. Its journey spans from a small initiative 7 years ago, with around 50 regional participants, to an international platform of its current standing, with a record number of entries (more than 250 international and 500 national) in initial years and a total of over 300 entries in last year alone.. Each year, the talent and creativity presented at FILUMS far exceeds that of previous years, and it is with such a pace that this nascent film festival is progressing towards its aim of becoming the central hub of a cinematic revival in Pakistan.
