Women International Film Festival :
Islamabad, February 16th, 2026: The Women International Film Festival (WIFF) marked its 10th milestone edition on 14–15 February 2026 at the Silk Road Culture Center, Islamabad, and Olomopolo, Lahore, with a soft opening hosted by Alliance Française Islamabad on 13 February.
Over the past decade, WIFF has evolved from a small, women-led grassroots initiative into one of Pakistan’s most consistent platforms for independent, women-led storytelling. The 10th edition stood as both a celebration of this journey and a reaffirmation of the festival’s commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering cross-cultural dialogue through cinema.
Reflecting on ten years of WIFF, Madeeha Raza, WIFF’s Founder and Curator noted, “WIFF began as a need to make space for women-made films, and ten years later, that commitment remains at the heart of everything we do.”
This year’s festival showcased 23 films from Pakistan, Australia, Iran, France, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, and Taiwan, presenting diverse narratives that explored identity, resistance, belonging, and lived realities across cultures.
A key highlight of the edition was the panel discussion, “Why We Make Films: Craft, Platforms, and New Audiences.” Bringing together filmmakers working across features, shorts, and digital-first formats, the conversation reflected on what draws audiences to cinema and why stories continue to matter. The panel explored narrative intention, the evolving language of visual storytelling across screens, and how emerging imaging technologies – including Sony’s latest lineup – are enabling filmmakers to expand their creative possibilities.
The panel featured Batool Naqvi, known for cinematic short-form digital storytelling; Zainab Nasir, award-winning film producer, educator, and representative of Sony; and Xoori K. Sarhadi, Pakistani-Australian filmmaker and Winner of WIFF’s Curator Choice Award. The discussion was moderated by Madeeha Raza.
The festival also included a masterclass by Marya Javed and a workshop by Jawad Sharif, reinforcing WIFF’s continued focus on mentorship, capacity building, and industry engagement.
As WIFF completed its first decade, it reaffirmed its role as a vital cultural platform dedicated to ensuring women’s stories are not only heard, but celebrated.
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