FLWL – From Lahore With Love

For the first time in its ten-year journey, the Women International Film Festival (WIFF) is gearing up to bring its magic to Lahore.

Taking place on February 14–15 at Olomopolo, the 10th edition of WIFF marks a historic first for the festival, which has lived and grown in Islamabad for the past nine years. This year, Lahore and Islamabad will experience the festival together – a deliberate widening of the conversation, and a signal that women-led cinema in Pakistan is no longer asking for space, but confidently claiming it.

Across two days, audiences can expect a rich, carefully curated programme featuring films by 23 directors from 13 countries, spotlighting stories that travel across borders, cultures, and lived realities. From intimate shorts to compelling features, WIFF X Lahore brings international and Pakistani cinema into conversation.

At the heart of the Lahore edition is Bilqul, the production house led by British-Pakistani filmmaker Annusheh Rahim, who is producing WIFF X Lahore. After completing her Master’s in Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge, Annusheh returned to Pakistan with a clear intention: to contribute to the country’s growing creative renaissance and to build platforms where women’s voices are heard, supported, and celebrated. Olomopolo, already a beloved space for art, culture, and community, sets the perfect stage for that vision.

“We’re thrilled to bring WIFF to Lahore. Bilqul and Women International Film Festival’s partnership stems from a shared conviction: amplifying women filmmakers is essential to Pakistan’s creative future.” Annusheh states.

The festival experience goes far beyond screenings. Expect filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions unpacking the journey of women in Pakistani cinema, and a programme designed to be as accessible as it is inspiring. One standout moment will be a conversation with Zenith Irfan, Pakistan’s first woman to travel the country on a motorcycle, as she discusses her feature film Motorcycle Girl, a story that mirrors the spirit of WIFF itself – fearless, self-defined, and unapologetically mobile.

There’s also a strong hands-on element. Aspiring filmmakers can attend a DSLR Basics for Beginners workshop, led by Ramis of Shutterhub, bringing over 12 years of industry experience into a practical, beginner-friendly learning space. From understanding aperture and shutter speed to composition and camera settings, it’s an open door into filmmaking, complete with a certificate of participation and included in the festival pass.

And because WIFF understands cinema as a communal experience, the atmosphere will be just as alive off-screen. A creatives mixer, curated food stalls celebrating Lahori talent, and live performances by DJ Mix Masala and dancers from The Colony promise energy, rhythm, and connection throughout the two days. The closing ceremony, featuring Nadia Jamil, adds a final note of cultural gravitas and star power.

Founded by Madeeha Raza in 2017, Women Through Film and WIFF were born out of necessity – at a time when platforms for women filmmakers in Pakistan were almost non-existent. What began as a small initiative has grown into a sustained cultural movement, building confidence, visibility, and economic opportunity for women storytellers.

“We’ve taken WIFF to Lahore before, but this year feels different,” Madeeha says. “Both cities will experience the festival at the same time. It’s a way of widening the conversation and letting the films travel to more audiences, together.”

For Lahore, this isn’t just another festival…it’s an invitation. To listen, celebrate and to be part of a growing movement that’s reshaping who gets to tell stories, and how loudly they’re heard.

With partners including Sony, Malala Fund, Alliance Française, Dawn News, FM89, Ticketwala, embassies of Spain, Netherlands, France, and Germany, plus Lahore-based partners From Lahore with Love and Shutterhub, WIFF X Lahore arrives backed by global trust and local love.

Tickets available here!

Header image courtesy of: Zenith Irfan/Facebook