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 Imran Malik is a film writer and director, with two successful short films under his belt, a music video to boot, and a 70-minute documentary feature (to be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and other international film festivals in the near future).
Imran's aspirations are supported by a life-long passion for the parallel cinema, and training at the New York Film Academy and the National College of Arts. He is a self-proclaimed leftist and an active member of the Socialist Revolution community in Pakistan.
We interviewed Imran because we see his combination of perspective and creative talent bringing us some very interesting movies in the future.
Here's what Imran has to say about himself and in general about film making in Pakistan.
Let’s start with your film direction career; what inspired this interest and what kind of films are you most interested in making?
I am a born film maker; since my childhood I have made different efforts at making films. During my summer vacations in my childhood I used to gather my friends at my place and start shooting different scenes, without using a video camera but by using a still camera lens. My big inspiration for films is Indian parallel cinema. Satyajit Ray and Shayam Benegal are big inspirations for me. Parallel cinema is my 1st choice, as by heart I am a leftist and see life at the core. Parallel cinema for me is non-commercial, painting true stories, showing grey shades of characters and themes: the Satyajit Ray School of thought
 Tell us about the films you’ve made so far…
I have done two short films: Last Kiss - Short Film (Screenplay & Director) Two versions, 18 & 13 Minutes) and Bushra Kahan Hai - Short Film (Writer & Director) 39-minutes.
Have you received any formal training or education in direction or is it a natural interest and talent?
First it’s natural interest and talent, but I have also brushed up my skills by taking formal training. I did a six-month Video Production course at the National College of Arts (NCA) and an eight-week direction course from the New York Film Academy
What are some of your personal strengths that set you apart as a director?
I am a good reader of Urdu literature, and English newspapers, magazines and articles. I am part of the Socialist Revolution community of Pakistan; I regularly attend their workshops and meetings. Above all I am a good observer. I sometimes go to remote areas, small towns, villages, and observe the life of laborers in factories, etc. This gives me the inspiration to write stories and make films about them. It's my passion to write first and then direct, as I feel a writer can visualize and tell a story in a better way.
What are the biggest challenges for young, independent film makers like you? Is it funds, subjects, distribution, or something else?
I personally feel that the young film makers of Pakistan are facing a combination of challenges. Funds are of course the main challenge as in Pakistan the producers are non-professional. Then there is no proper platform for young film makers in Pakistan to showcase their work. The Kara Film Festival has become a festival for more of Indian and foreign stuff. Young film makers (especially from Lahore) are not getting their due share in this festival. Subjects are not an issue with young film-makers; subjects are there but there is no institute to materialize the ideas on these subjects.
Are you looking for producers for any upcoming production and how can people approach you with financing proposals?
I am working on a 70-minute film for the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City and for other international festivals. I have been approached by a producer through my common friends who have seen my work.
 Would you be open to directing films for others – if they gave you the script and all?
Yeah, definitely I can work with good scripts, if I feel comfortable directing them!
What is your opinion of the state of the Pakistani film industry (commercial cinema)? What are young film makers doing to improve the standards?
The Pakistan film industry is in bad shape these days. We don't have an infrastructure to appreciate young talent and take risks. Unless our authorities revive our film industry we can't grow in our own country. We have many good commercial directors i.e. Asim Raza, Jami, Ahsan Raheem, Saqib Malik, and Asad Haq who are all stuck in making TV commercials. Mehreen Jabbar is a hope for Pakistani cinema; she has announced a film, let’s see what she brings with her 1st filmi venture. Secondly, sadly we are still stuck in the Lahore vs. Karachi war; we have to forget this thing forever if we have to bring our film industry forth with pride. Even TV channels are spoiling the careers of film makers in Pakistan by utilizing their skills in making low-budget tele-films and flashy soap dramas. So I don't see a good scope for film making in Pakistan.
What do you like to do when you are not making films? Any other projects or ventures you’d like to tell us about?
I love to watch and read a lot and if I am not making a film, I will definitely be writing for a newspaper/magazine. “Colors of Life” is my up-coming project, it’s a 70-minute low budget film based on the February Riots at the Lahore Mall Road on the cartoon issue in Danish Newspaper
Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
Read a lot - Urdu literature ( Saadat Hasan Manto, Mumtaz Mufti, Mustansaer Hussaian Tarar, Ashfaq Ahmed, Krishan Chander, Bano Qudsia). I won’t say don't read English literature but we have to make Films in Pakistan not in USA/UK.
 Watch a Lot - Watch classic films (Orsen Welles, Federico Fellini, Steven Spielberg, Steven Soderberg, Keira Kurisova, Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, Mani Ratnam)
Observe a Lot...
Don't hesitate to work as assistants because "Experience has no short cuts”!!!
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