Film

PakistaniArt covers Pakistani cinema from script to screen. We review new releases, profile directors and actors, and analyse the stories Pakistani filmmakers are choosing to tell, from commercial blockbusters to independent films that deserve a much wider audience.

Related —Film & TVCinemaTelevisionAnimation
This image is a frame from the apocalyptic animated short film Danse Macabre (2026), directed by Dutch filmmaker and painter Hisko Hulsing. Set to the second movement of Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10, the film uses over 75 hand-painted oil canvases combined with 2D and CG animation to create a nightmarish, hand-crafted aesthetic. The scene depicts a skeletal soldier wearing a helmet peering through a library window into a room with crystal goblets, against a backdrop of a city engulfed in orange flames.

Annecy Defends Director Hisko Hulsing After Anti-AI Protest Disrupts 'Danse Macabre' Premiere

The festival's artistic director issued a public statement backing the Dutch filmmaker as tensions over generative AI in animation boiled over for a third consecutive year at the French event

Zoya Mahroosh ZulfiqarJUN 25, 2026
An animated group of four characters from the Shrek franchise stands together with varied expressions of shock and confusion against a blurred, rustic background. On the far left, Princess Fiona, an ogre with red hair in a green dress, smiles with wide eyes. Next to her, Donkey looks upward with an exaggerated, wide-eyed grimace, showing his teeth. In the center, Shrek, a large green ogre wearing his signature white tunic and brown textured vest, clenches his teeth and fists in an uneasy, defensive posture. To his right stands a female teenage ogre with long, messy ginger hair tied in a partial topknot, a nose ring, and a green textured top, looking anxiously to the side with her hand pressed to her chest.

DreamWorks Animation Drops First 'Shrek 5' Teaser Trailer With Returning Cast and New Adventure

Zendaya, Marcello Hernandez, and Skyler Gisondo join Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz as the franchise heads to Further Further Away

Zoya Mahroosh ZulfiqarJUN 16, 2026

Latest in Film

FilmAUG 20, 2026

Charles Melton in Talks to Play Kakashi in the Live-Action 'Naruto' Movie

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
A side-by-side comparison image features American actor Charles Melton on the left and the anime character Kakashi Hatake from Naruto on the right. Charles Melton is depicted from the chest up, sporting wavy black hair, an earring, a white collared shirt, and a sharp dark blue suit jacket as he looks directly at the camera against a blurred background. Beside him, Kakashi Hatake is shown in his signature ninja attire, featuring spiky silver hair, a dark blue face mask covering his lower face, a forehead protector slanted over his left eye, and a green tactical vest while holding a kunai knife.
FilmAUG 15, 2026

Why Marvel's New 'X-Men' Cast Is Dividing Fans

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
A medium-shot portrait captures Maya Boyd, Inde Navarrette, Samara Weaving, and Sadie Sink standing closely together against a dark, plain black backdrop. On the far left, Maya Boyd poses with a soft smile, styled with voluminous, dark curly hair pinned back at the sides. She wears a dark blue strapless denim maxi dress featuring visible pinstripes and structured seam lines along the bodice. Standing next to her, Inde Navarrette smiles directly at the camera with long, wavy dark hair framing her face. She wears an edgy black leather or faux-leather halter-neck crop top that splits open at the lower front, paired with a high-waisted, flowing white maxi skirt. Next in line, Samara Weaving smiles subtly, showcasing shoulder-length blond waves parted down the middle. She wears a structured, sleeveless white cocktail dress with a draped cowl neckline, a fitted waist, and a slight balloon silhouette at the skirt, complemented by a delicate silver necklace. On the far right, Sadie Sink smiles warmly with her signature red hair styled into an elegant updos with loose strands framing her face. She is dressed in an intricate, sleeveless V-neck maxi dress adorned with semi-sheer mesh paneling across the midriff and tiered, ruffled fabric detailing in muted tones of beige, green, and orange. The lighting is direct and bright, casting soft shadows behind the women and highlighting the varying textures of their outfits.
Digital ArtAUG 14, 2026

DC and Warner Bros. Caught Using AI Concept Art for 'Supergirl' Lobo

Kamil Dad
A medium shot captures director Craig Gillespie and actor Jason Momoa from a slightly low angle as they sit together at a black glossy conference table inside an office space during a pre-production meeting. From the left side of the frame, Craig Gillespie, wearing a dark blue quilted puffer jacket, black glasses, and a gray flat cap, leans forward to operate a silver laptop setup. On the laptop's open screen, a black-and-white AI-generated concept art image displays a muscular, long-haired man leaning against a bar, conceptualizing the look for the DC character Lobo. From the right side of the frame, Jason Momoa, wearing a wide-brimmed brown fedora hat and a light pink t-shirt with his signature long wavy brown hair falling over his shoulder, leans over with his hand resting near his face as he intently reviews the design on the screen. The polished dark table reflects the surrounding workspace, holding multiple clear plastic water bottles with white caps, a pair of sunglasses with tortoiseshell-rimmed lenses, a paper coaster, and a small milk carton. The background shows muted gray office walls, office chairs with metal frames, a guitar resting in the distance, and framed wall art, all softly out of focus.
AnimationAUG 13, 2026

Crunchyroll and Sony Secure Makoto Shinkai's Next Film for Global Theatrical Release

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
An artistic graphic featuring a stylized, grayscale portrait of Japanese anime director Makoto Shinkai against a vibrant orange and black background. Shinkai is positioned in the lower-center of the frame, facing slightly left, wearing round spectacles, a dark button-down shirt, and a blazer jacket. His portrait is cutout with a thick cream-colored border, layering it over a large orange circular graphic that dominates the bottom half of the image. This circular background is embellished with white, shimmering starburst sparkles and black, abstract architectural outlines reminiscent of cityscapes. Behind this entire composition, the upper section features the large, bold orange typography of the "Crunchyroll" logo, with a smaller, white "SONY" logo printed directly beneath the letters "roll." The topmost layer of the background contains a dark, textured pattern resembling stylized camouflage or abstract paint brushstrokes in shades of black and charcoal grey, completing the energetic and modern promotional design layout.
FilmAUG 11, 2026

Creepypasta's Biggest Icon Is Getting a Movie, and the Internet Gets to Help Build It

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The comparison image juxtaposes the infamous online horror urban legend "Jeff the Killer" with filmmaker and content creator Savanah Moss to highlight her upcoming live-action horror movie adaptation of the internet icon. A side-by-side comparison image divided vertically down the middle. On the left side is the classic, highly distorted creepypasta image known as "Jeff the Killer," featuring an unnaturally pale, white, oval face, devoid of a nose, with wide-staring unblinking eyes surrounded by black circles, and an exaggerated, bloody, ghoulishly wide grin showing teeth. On the right side is a side-profile photograph of internet personality and director Savanah Moss, smiling at a red carpet event while wearing an elegant, sleeveless red dress with thin straps, her wavy light-brown hair cascading down her back against a dark backdrop.
FilmAUG 8, 2026

The Viral Hulk Debate That Gets Marvel's Own Power Structure Wrong

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The viral "Disney Hulk vs. Sony Hulk" debate is rooted in a major fan misconception surrounding the film Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as Sony Pictures does not own and has never controlled the creative direction of the Hulk. In reality, the viral comparison highlights two different creative phases handled entirely by Marvel Studios (Disney), contrasting the articulate, passive "Smart Hulk" seen in Avengers: Endgame with the terrifyingly feral, grey "Savage Hulk" triggered by a Jean Grey plot twist in the new Spider-Man movie. Because Brand New Day is a Sony-distributed film, internet memes mistakenly credited Sony for "saving" the character by making him brutal again; however, Marvel Studios' creative team designed both versions. The true contrast lies in characterization and production, where the "Disney" era represents polished CGI and comic relief, while the "Sony" era represents a return to classic, destructive comic book roots, albeit with rougher, more uneven visual effects. Ultimately, Sony only controls Spider-Man characters, Universal Pictures holds standalone Hulk distribution rights, and Disney remains completely responsible for writing and designing the savage beast that fans are celebrating.
FilmAUG 8, 2026

Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' Gets a Viral Second Life Thanks to One Perfectly Silly Potato Line

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
In this striking lineup from Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*, a dysfunctional ensemble of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most prominent antiheroes stands captured from left to right, showcasing an intriguing blend of redemption seekers and battle-tested operatives. Anchor of the left side is Bucky Barnes, portrayed with seasoned gravitas by Sebastian Stan, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the phasing, molecularly unstable Ava Starr/Ghost, brought to life by Hannah John-Kamen. Taking center stage is the fierce and witty Black Widow successor Yelena Belova, played by Florence Pugh, who flanks the volatile former Captain America John Walker, embodied by Wyatt Russell. Grounding the far right is the boisterous Russian super-soldier Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian, played by David Harbour, completing a visually compelling tableau of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's recruited misfits as they prepare to confront the ghosts of their traumatic pasts.
FilmAUG 4, 2026

Sindh Censors Deny 'Ghost School' a Certificate, Banning It in the Film's Own Province

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The term "Ghost School" refers to both a critical socio-political issue in Pakistan and an internationally acclaimed 2025 feature drama film directed by Seemab Gul that highlights this crisis. In reality, a "ghost school" is an official term for an educational institution that exists only on paper or has been completely abandoned; while the government continues to allocate monthly budgets for maintenance and teacher salaries, the funds are routinely siphoned off by corrupt local politicians or "ghost teachers" who get paid but never show up, leaving thousands of rural school buildings to fall into ruin or be repurposed as private cattle sheds. Gul’s film uses a blend of social and magical realism to explore this structural corruption through the eyes of Rabia, a precocious 10-year-old girl in a rural village who investigates why her school has suddenly been shut down under the local pretense that it is haunted by a Jinn. After earning widespread acclaim at major international festivals like the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2025 and the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in February 2026, the film recently sparked widespread controversy on August 4, 2026, when the Sindh Board of Film Censors denied it a screening certificate, declaring it "unsuitable for public screening" in the very province where much of the real-world crisis persists.
ReviewsAUG 2, 2026

Brand New Day is The Best MCU Spider-Man Movie, But...

Elia Raza
An stylized, graphic comic book illustration showcases Spider-Man mid-leap against a vibrant, purple-hued background with a half-tone pattern. In the center, Spider-Man is depicted in a dynamic, crouching aerial pose, cut out with a thick white border that separates his red-and-blue suit from the background. His suit features the classic webbed pattern and prominent white eye lenses. In the lower half of the image, the large, stylized 3D text "SPIDER-MAN" is rendered in a metallic blue, with the subtitle "BRAND NEW DAY" printed below it in a clean, white, sans-serif font. The background contains faint, layered imagery of cityscapes and a masked figure, all rendered in monochromatic shades of purple and blue with a distinct retro comic printing dot texture. Collage illustration by Awais Shaukat for PakistaniArt.
AnimationJUL 28, 2026

Makoto Shinkai's "Your Name" Returns to U.S. Theaters in 4K for Its Tenth Anniversary

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Your Name. (Kimi no Na wa) is a masterpiece of modern animation that blends romance, fantasy, and destiny. Directed by Makoto Shinkai and released in 2016, the film follows Mitsuha, a high school girl in a rural mountain village, and Taki, a high school boy living in Tokyo. The two teenagers are inexplicably bound together when they begin periodically swapping bodies, forcing them to navigate each other's lives and leave behind digital diaries to manage the chaos. Just as a deep emotional connection forms between them, the phenomenon abruptly stops, prompting Taki to search for Mitsuha in the Japanese countryside. This search reveals a stunning twist: their experiences are separated by a three-year time gap, and Mitsuha's hometown was tragically destroyed by a comet fragment years earlier. Utilizing ancient Shinto traditions and a magical meeting at twilight, Taki races against time to alter past events, evacuate the town, and preserve their fading memories of one another. Visually breathtaking, the movie is celebrated for its hyper-realistic depictions of Tokyo, vibrant skies, and an iconic, emotionally resonant soundtrack composed by the rock band RADWIMPS. It became a massive global box office phenomenon, cementing Shinkai's reputation as a legendary storyteller and serving as the first entry in his unofficial "disaster trilogy," which also includes Weathering with You and Suzume.
FilmJUL 28, 2026

Fahad Mustafa and Talha Anjum Set to Star in Pakistani Action-Thriller 'Powerbank'

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Fahad Mustafa is one of Pakistan's highest-paid and most influential television hosts, actors, and producers. Born Fahad Salahuddin on June 26, 1983, to legendary Sindhi actor Salahuddin Tunio, he dropped out of a pharmacy program to pursue entertainment, debuting in the 2003 TV series Umrao Jaan Ada. He skyrocketed to fame through acclaimed television dramas such as Main Abdul Qadir Hoon and Kankar, and later cemented his dominance in Pakistani cinema by starring in massive box-office hits like Na Maloom Afraad and Actor in Law. Since 2014, he has been a ubiquitous household name across the country as the energetic host of Jeeto Pakistan (instagram.com), widely regarded as the nation's biggest game show. Behind the camera, he runs the successful production banner Big Bang Entertainment, producing numerous top-rated television projects while also announcing major expansions into film production with high-profile cinematic ventures alongside superstars like Mahira Khan. Following a decade-long hiatus from the small screen, he staged a phenomenal television comeback in the blockbuster romantic drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, a performance that won global praise and earned him a Lux Style Award. Personally, he has been married to writer and producer Sana Fahad since 2006, with whom he shares two children, balancing his sprawling entertainment empire with a deeply family-oriented lifestyle. Talha Anjum is a defining force in South Asian hip-hop, widely celebrated as a pioneer of Urdu rap and one of Pakistan's most streamed music artists. Born on October 3, 1995, and raised in Karachi, he rose to nationwide prominence in 2013 after co-founding the iconic hip-hop duo Young Stunners (en.wikipedia.org) alongside fellow rapper Talhah Yunus. Their breakout satirical single Burger-e-Karachi struck a chord with youth culture, laying the groundwork for mainstream hip-hop acceptance in the country. Revered for his melancholic storytelling, deeply reflective poetry, and sharp social commentary, Anjum has dropped continuous viral chart-toppers like Afsanay, Gumaan, and Downers at Dusk. He has seamlessly bridged underground rap with mainstream pop culture, collaborating on high-profile projects like the Pakistan Super League (en.wikipedia.org) (PSL) anthem Groove Mera and partnering with legendary international rap label Mass Appeal. Beyond his collaborative work with long-time producers Jokhay and Umair (instagram.com), his solo endeavors include critically acclaimed studio albums like Open Letter and My Terrible Mind. Driven by an experimental creative streak, he even made a successful transition to the big screen, starring as the lead protagonist in the action-thriller film Kattar Karachi. Personally, he marked a major milestone by marrying his cousin and social media influencer, Zoeia Karim.
AIJUL 28, 2026

Pakistan's Beloved 'Ainak Wala Jin' Returns as an AI Film, and Fans Are Not Having It

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
"Ainak Wala Jin" is Pakistan's first fully AI-generated commercial feature film, which officially hit theaters nationwide on July 24, 2026. "Ainak Wala Jin" is an 85-minute Urdu-language fantasy film that officially hit Pakistani theaters nationwide on July 24, 2026, earning distinction as Asia's first fully AI-generated commercial feature film. Directed by Farhan M. Khan and produced by Faisal Saleem in partnership with Pakistan Television (PTV), the movie leverages artificial intelligence instead of standard traditional animation pipelines to tell the story of a young boy who discovers his elderly neighbor is a powerful jin, embarking on a magical journey to the realm of Kokaf. While the project capitalizes on the nostalgic name of the legendary 1993 PTV children's television series, it presents an entirely new narrative without the original cast, sparking intense debate across social media. While public figures like Juggun Kazim have praised the film as a bold, pioneering technological milestone for local cinema, the production has faced severe backlash from the local creative community; Pakistani animators and viewers have criticized the visuals as unpolished "AI slop," arguing that relying on automated generation undermines the artistry, effort, and growth of traditional animation in Pakistan.
FilmJUL 23, 2026

Malia Baker Opts Out of 'Descendants' Tour as Cantrall Feud Fuels a New Disney Saga

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Kylie Cantrall and Malia Baker represent a dynamic and highly talented new generation of young Hollywood stars who have captivated audiences worldwide with their distinct artistic styles and impressive, versatile talents. Kylie Cantrall first rose to prominence as a multifaceted digital creator, singer, and dancer before making a massive impact on television with her charismatic leading roles in Disney Channel projects like Gabby Duran & the Unsittables and further cementing her star power by stepping into the iconic, rebellious shoes of Red in the hit musical franchise Descendants: The Rise of Red. On the other hand, Malia Baker has earned deep critical acclaim and a dedicated following through her deeply empathetic and grounded acting performances, notably capturing the hearts of millions as Mary Anne Spier in Netflix’s beautifully adapted series The Baby-Sitters Club and continuously using her rising platform to passionately advocate for social justice, mental health awareness, and meaningful youth empowerment. The two brilliant stars famously crossed creative paths when they were cast alongside each other in Descendants: The Rise of Red, where Baker portrayed Chloe Charming, the perfectionist daughter of Cinderella and Prince Charming, creating a spectacular on-screen contrast with Cantrall’s fierce, edgy character. This high-stakes, time-traveling musical adventure allowed both actresses to blend their unique performative strengths, showcasing a captivating on-screen chemistry that brilliantly balanced Cantrall’s high-energy musicality and powerhouse vocals with Baker’s nuanced, emotionally resonant acting. Beyond their undeniable talent in front of the camera, both Cantrall and Baker serve as massive inspirations to Gen Z by demonstrating immense professionalism, creative versatility, and a shared dedication to using their global platforms to uplift, entertain, and positively influence young audiences across the globe.
FashionJUL 19, 2026

Christopher Nolan Wears Ajrakh Silk Tie at 'The Odyssey' New York Premiere

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Matt Damon, director Christopher Nolan, and Anne Hathaway command the red carpet at the star-studded world premiere of The Odyssey on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the AMC Lincoln Square theater in New York City. Standing together from left to right, the powerhouse trio celebrates the release of their highly anticipated epic fantasy blockbuster, marking a major cinematic reunion over a decade after they first collaborated on 2014's Interstellar. Positioned in the center, Nolan guides his leading actors through a wave of flashing cameras and cheering fans, just days ahead of the film's global theatrical rollout. The high-profile event draws massive media attention to Manhattan's Upper West Side, anchoring the promotional tour for a film that has already made headlines as the first feature shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras.
FilmJUL 18, 2026

Kylie Cantrall's Eye Roll at Malia Baker Sparks Descendants Feud Talk

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Kylie Cantrall and Malia Baker are the leading Disney Channel stars of the new generation. They portray the central duo Red (daughter of the Queen of Hearts) and Chloe Charming (daughter of Cinderella) in the Descendants franchise, starring together in Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024) and Descendants: Wicked Wonderland (2026). While they initially shared an incredibly close, highly publicized real-life friendship, they have recently made headlines due to an intense real-life falling out that they have had to navigate while simultaneously promoting their films.
FilmJUL 16, 2026

Zendaya's 3,000-Year-Old Iranian Earrings Ignite a Fierce Debate Over Looted Antiquities

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Zendaya kicked off the promotional tour for Christopher Nolan's cinematic epic, The Odyssey, in breathtaking fashion on July 5, 2026, at the IET London: Savoy Place. Channeling her inner Greek deity to mirror her role as Athena, the ancient goddess of wisdom and warfare, the 29-year-old actress delivered a masterclass in thematic "method dressing". She wore a stunning, crisp ivory halter gown custom-designed by Jacquemus from their Spring/Summer 2027 "Le Bonheur" collection. Curated by her longtime image architect Law Roach, the sleek columns of the dress featured a distinct diamond-shaped bodice and an open, low-plunging back that elegantly extended up into a unified, fluid headscarf. Zendaya paired the ethereal look with clean Christian Louboutin pumps and made headlines with historical, 3,000-year-old gold medallion disc earrings from Barron London. Posing alongside her co-stars against the iconic London skyline, her architectural silhouette effectively set a high-fashion, mythical tone for the film's global press rollout.
AnimationJUL 9, 2026

Ghibli Park's First Original Short Film 'Night in the Valley of Witches' Begins Exclusive Screenings

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
"Night in the Valley of Witches" (Majo no Tani no Yoru) is an exclusive, 14-minute animated short film produced by Studio Ghibli that premiered on July 8, 2026, at Ghibli Park in Aichi, Japan. Co-directed by Gorō Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita, the short follows a new park employee whose after-hours chores spiral into magical chaos as iconic structures from the park's real-life "Valley of Witches" area—such as Howl's Castle and Kiki's Guchoki Bakery—come to life. The film is accompanied by an exhibition of handcrafted panorama boxes designed by Hayao Miyazaki and can only be viewed in person at the park's Cinema Orion located inside Ghibli's Grand Warehouse.
AnimationJUN 27, 2026

Disney's 'Hexed' Trailer Ignites Fierce Debate Over Center-Focused Framing and TikTok-Ready Composition

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Hexed is an upcoming original American animated coming-of-age fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Serving as the 65th film in the Disney Animated Canon, it is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on November 25, 2026.Movie Overview & PlotThe movie follows Billie (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), an impulsive and unconventional teenage girl who constantly feels miscast and out of place in her ordinary suburban life. When she accidentally unleashes secret, untamed magical abilities, she is expelled from school and sucked through a portal into Hexe, a vast, hidden realm of witches.Billie is forced to team up with her cautious, Type-A single mother, Alice (voiced by Rashida Jones), who enters the realm to find her. Together, the mother-daughter duo explores Hexe, hones Billie's magical powers, and uncovers long-held family secrets that could alter the world of witches forever.The Cast & Creative TeamThe film features a prominent voice cast and seasoned Disney creators:Hailee Steinfeld as Billie, the headstrong teenage protagonist.Rashida Jones as Alice, Billie's strict, cautious mother.Tracey Ullman as Ms. Quill, an enchanted, talking feather quill pen that greets Billie in Hexe.Stephen Fry as Elias Quire, a whimsical, talking magical journal.Directors: Fawn Veerasunthorn (Wish) and Jason Hand (Moana 2), with Josie Trinidad serving as co-director.Producers: Roy Conli (Big Hero 6, Tangled) and Yvett Merino (Encanto).Production Designer: Lorelay Bové, known for her vibrant visual work on Encanto and The Princess and the Frog.Behind-the-Scenes & EvolutionWhen Hexed was initially announced at Destination D23 in August 2025, the narrative was centered on an awkward teenage boy and his mother. By April 2026, Disney updated the creative direction to focus on a teenage girl, shifting the central theme heavily into a mother-daughter dynamic. Early footage shown at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2026 highlighted Disney's experimentation with a fresh, highly saturated, and stylized non-CGI aesthetic blend.
FilmJUN 27, 2026

DC Studios' 'Supergirl' Stumbles With $18 Million Opening Day Behind 'Toy Story 5'

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The Supergirl feature film was released in theaters on June 26, 2026, serving as the second official entry in James Gunn and Peter Safran's newly rebooted DC Universe (DCU). Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, the sci-fi superhero movie stars Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl on an intense, interstellar quest across the galaxy.
OpinionJUN 25, 2026

Pakistan's Showbiz Workers Are Right to Panic Over the Foreign Content Tax Rollback

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
The Pakistani showbiz industry is currently experiencing a dynamic shift, driven by major celebrity updates, massive local television productions, and critical policy debates surrounding foreign content. As a vibrant ecosystem encompassing television dramas, high-fashion modeling, cinema, and digital media, the landscape thrives on active fan engagement and heavy cross-platform digital presence.🎭 Major Celebrity & Wedding NewsHigh-profile celebrity milestones and personal updates heavily dominate current headlines across local media platforms:Mawra Hocane & Ameer Gilani: The popular television duo officially married in a grand wedding ceremony hosted in Lahore, trending heavily across digital platforms.Kubra Khan & Gohar Rasheed: The long-time celebrity peers celebrated their Nikkah ceremony during a religious pilgrimage to Makkah.Nimra Khan: The actress celebrated her birthday by achieving a personal milestone, fulfilling her dream of performing Umrah alongside her husband.Dur-e-Fishan Saleem: The actress captured immense social media attention while celebrating and documenting her brother's recent wedding festivities.🎬 Television Drama & Digital Media TrendsTelevision dramas remain the foundational pillar of Pakistan's entertainment economy, supported by growing digital streaming outlets like tapmad Entertainment and FUCHSIA Magazine:Streaming Era Proliferation: Original digital series like Shamsher (starring Farhan Saeed and Hareem Farooq) are driving viewership straight to localized streaming platforms over traditional television sets.Rising Industry Debates: On-screen content boundaries are drawing active fan scrutiny, such as recent public critique leveled at the romantic on-screen physical proximity of university student characters in ongoing television serials.The Stand-Up Boom: Narrative themes are broadening out, as seen in projects like Green Entertainment's Standup Girl starring Zara Noor Abbas, which explores creative performance arts outside conventional soap-opera tropes.⚖️ Industry Policy & Economic ChallengesBeyond the glamour, the administrative side of Lollywood faces intense friction:Foreign Content Tax Battle: In late June 2026, major local entertainment bodies fiercely opposed a federal proposal to remove the advance tax on imported television serials and international advertisements. Industry leaders warn that rolling back these protective taxes risks mass local crew unemployment and threatens decades of industrial rehabilitation.Infrastructure Deficit: Prominent performers have voiced structural concerns, stating that while Punjab and other regions produce an abundance of creative talent, industry demand remains bottlenecked, treating showbiz like a localized community rather than an open, structured industry.
AIJUN 25, 2026

Annecy Defends Director Hisko Hulsing After Anti-AI Protest Disrupts 'Danse Macabre' Premiere

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
This image is a frame from the apocalyptic animated short film Danse Macabre (2026), directed by Dutch filmmaker and painter Hisko Hulsing. Set to the second movement of Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10, the film uses over 75 hand-painted oil canvases combined with 2D and CG animation to create a nightmarish, hand-crafted aesthetic. The scene depicts a skeletal soldier wearing a helmet peering through a library window into a room with crystal goblets, against a backdrop of a city engulfed in orange flames.
AIJUN 23, 2026

Tom Hanks Warns Disney Could Use AI to Voice Woody in 'Toy Story 6' Without His Involvement

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Sheriff Woody Pride remains the iconic vintage pull-string cowboy doll we all know, but Toy Story 6 has not yet been officially released or detailed. Following the theatrical release of Toy Story 5, discussions regarding Woody's future role in a potential sixth installment have centered heavily on a major behind-the-scenes update regarding his voice actor, Tom Hanks.
AnimationJUN 16, 2026

DreamWorks Animation Drops First 'Shrek 5' Teaser Trailer With Returning Cast and New Adventure

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
An animated group of four characters from the Shrek franchise stands together with varied expressions of shock and confusion against a blurred, rustic background. On the far left, Princess Fiona, an ogre with red hair in a green dress, smiles with wide eyes. Next to her, Donkey looks upward with an exaggerated, wide-eyed grimace, showing his teeth. In the center, Shrek, a large green ogre wearing his signature white tunic and brown textured vest, clenches his teeth and fists in an uneasy, defensive posture. To his right stands a female teenage ogre with long, messy ginger hair tied in a partial topknot, a nose ring, and a green textured top, looking anxiously to the side with her hand pressed to her chest.
FilmJUN 15, 2026

Anya Taylor-Joy Joins 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' as New Elf Character Seren

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Anya Taylor-Joy stunned attendees at the Los Angeles premiere of Last Night in Soho on October 25, 2021, hosted by Focus Features at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
FilmJUN 15, 2026

Anthony C. Ferrante's "Water Park Shark" Poster Surfaces Ahead of Shark Con Debut

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
Poster for the horror film Water Park Shark showing a giant great white shark erupting from a crowded water-park pool with colourful slides and an inner tube, starring David Chokachi and Chelsea Gilson, from the director and producer of Sharknado.
FilmJUN 12, 2026

'The One' Assembles a Strong Cast for Kent Moran's New Psychological Thriller

Zoya Mahroosh Zulfiqar
A medium close-up shot capturing actor Kent Moran as the character Jaden Miller from a side-profile angle as he looks over his left shoulder directly toward the camera. He has light brown, short-cropped hair styled slightly upward at the front, a fair complexion with a subtle reddish mark near his left eye, and a serious, guarded facial expression. He wears a plain white crewneck t-shirt underneath an unzipped, textured charcoal-grey hoodie jacket. The background depicts a dimly lit, weathered home interior, likely a kitchen entryway. To the left, a vertical section of a wall is visible, covered in square, off-white ceramic tiles divided by a prominent dark grout line. A sliver of an adjacent doorway reveals a dark blue background behind him. To the right, the flat white side panel of a refrigerator fills the frame, upon which a yellow package of Oreo cookies rests on top.

Most Popular

  1. 1Inside Laura Sisk and Oli Jacobs' Wedding Drew Taylor Swift to England
  2. 2Pakistani Dramas 2026: The Complete List of New, Ongoing & Upcoming Shows
  3. 3Danish Taimoor's 'Nishtar' Drops Its First Look as Har Pal Geo Lines Up Its Next Big Bet
  4. 4Everyone Is Asking If James Blunt Is the Man in Hayden Panettiere's Memoir
  5. 5Why KATSEYE's 'Hootie Frutti' Is Reigniting the Debate Over Who This Group Is Actually For

PakistaniArt uses cookies to remember your preferences, keep the site running smoothly, and understand which stories our readers care about most. We never sell your data. See our Cookie Policy for exactly what we collect and why.