The Khayaal Creative Network, the powerhouse team behind the second Khayaal Festival staged the second and concluding day of the festival in collaboration with the Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore.
The Khayaal Festival aimed to promote dialogue through a series of talks, performances and documentaries ranging from politics, culture, economy, art, dance, music, literature, empowerment, identity and sociopolitical issues. The second and final day of the festival explored a diversity of topics including but not limited to, talks on Gender and Media, Literature of Dissent, Asylum & Exiles: Hidden Voices, Pak – China Relations – Partnership or Partronage, The Varied Eras of writing, Photo Journalism – The Story Behind the Pictures, Transpositions: Venice se Lahore and The Eternal Life of Dr. Javid Iqbal.
On Day 2, the festival also organized a dramatic reading of Letters from Prisoners of death row, “Limbo” by Olomopolo Media featuring Sarmad Khoosat, Nadia Afgan and Erfan Khoosat. Documentaries were also an integral part of the festival and day 2 screened Award winning documentaries Deosai, Unwelcome in Tehran, K2 and the Invisible Footmen, Cliffwalkers of Chiltral Gol and the Winning Film of the Little Art Competition. South Asia’s Kathak maestro Nighat Chaodhry also presented a dance performance. The event concluded with a riveting live musical performance by the acclaimed Mekaal Hasan Band to a jam packed hall.
The core theme for the Khayaal Festival 2015 this year was Pushing the Boundaries, a theme which was reflected in all sessions and performances. Day 2’s lineup included diverse speakers, drawing on literature, poetry, film, drama, language, documentary, art, music and current affairs.
Sessions featured Vladimir Byoko, Reza Mohammadi, Bushra Gohar, Ali Hashmi, Mira Hashmi, Shaanzae Shahid, Raniya Hosain, Anam Husain, Fahad Malhi, Ehtisham Zahid, Mussarat Masshadi, Noor ul Huda Shah, Ajmal Kamal, Aamer Hussein, Asif Farrukhi, Naeem Tahir, Bidisha, Ayesha Raja, Meeran Karim, Roshaneh Zafar, Marvi Sirmid, Andrew Small, Dr. Asad Sayeed, Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa, Musharraf Ali Farooqi, H M Naqvi, Maryam Wasif, Wajahat Malik, Maryam Cheema,Justice(r) Nasira Iqbal, Walid Iqbal, Rashid Rana, Nour aslam, Ai Akbar Natiq, Dr Faisal Bari, Bilal Hasan Minto, Dr. Ali Cheema, Osama Siddique, Suraya Multankar, Krishen Beel, Allahditta Yunawala, Sajid Durrani, Saba Khan, Madhya Leghari, Shakila Haider, Quddus Mirza, Marvi Memon, Bushra Gohar, Taimur Rehman, Sara Farid, Sara Ahmed, Sohail Warraich, Mujib Shami, Fahd Hussain, Abdur Rauf, Vasay Chaudhary, Ahmed Ali Butt and Ali Aftab Saeed.
The two-day event was supported by Sapphire, OurSun, LACAS, Interwood, Ferozsons Laboratories, Millat Tractors, UBL, Zaman Foundation, City FM89, Lotus PR, The One Lotus Agency and Eleventh Experience and also featured the Khalis Food Market, Daachi Foundation, British Council Pop Up Library, FlopShop, Readings and Robokids.
The two day festival was free and open to all.
For more information visit:
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twitter.com/KhayaalFestival
Hashtag #KhayaalFest
For media queries related to Khayaal Festival, please contact:
Zubair Mallick – zubairmallick@lotuspk.com, +92 302 848 99 44
Shamail Butt – shamailbutt@lotuspk.com, +92 301 848 99 66
Osman ur Rehman – osmanrehman@lotuspk.com, +92 300 843 55 66