"the festival was a celebration of culture, unity and community"
The PAK Film Festival 2026 has brought Pakistani and Kashmiri culture, heritage and Islamic storytelling to cinemas across the UK.
Organised by Kashmiri Productions UK CIC, the national cinema tour began in founder Zafar Iqbal’s hometown of Rochdale before travelling to Birmingham and Luton in August.
DESIblitz was a proud partner of the event, which brought together mixed communities, including families, mayors, councillors, filmmakers, artists, media professionals and community members.
Audiences watched nine productions created by talented individuals from Kashmiri and Pakistani backgrounds.
The programme included nasheeds, short films and documentaries exploring Islamic values, Pakistani and Kashmiri culture, languages and heritage.
It also featured a film shot around the Bamford and Norden areas of Rochdale, placing a local setting at the centre of the festival’s national programme.
Zafar Iqbal, festival director, said: “Through this initiative, we have proudly placed Rochdale, Pakistani and Kashmiri heritage on the map.
“The festival created valuable opportunities for participants, volunteers, filmmakers and artists to showcase their work, build networks, develop new skills and grow in confidence.
“At its heart, the festival was a celebration of culture, unity and community, while also raising awareness and support for KORT charity.
“Our dedicated team of volunteers worked tirelessly to create engaging visual experiences that highlighted Pakistani and Kashmiri heritage, promoted community cohesion and brought people together.
“This year’s festival aimed to inspire and entertain a diverse audience by showcasing South Asian, Islamic stories and content on the big screen.
“We are also incredibly proud to have played our part in supporting KORT’s mission to build the largest hospital in Azad Kashmir, providing vital healthcare for people in need.
“We are grateful to everyone who contributed their time, talent and passion to making the festival a success.
“Together, we have celebrated our heritage, strengthened our community and helped support a cause that will make a lasting difference to lives in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.”
PFF 2026 collaborators were acknowledged and they included:
- Sultan Ateeq Rehman, Nasheed/Sufi Artist
- Prince Naseeb Abbas, Nasheed Artist
- Khadim Hussain Naqshbandi, Nasheed Artist
- Ahtsham Aslam, Nasheed Artist
- Umar Saleem, You Tuber
- Hamoon Rashid Chohan, TV Presenter
- Zafar Ali, Actor
- Sahir Shaikh, Actor
- M I Junaid Khan, Actor
- Khurram Iftikhar, Director
- Shafiq Ur Rehman, Director
- Hassan Hayat Khan, Director
- Samran Ghazi, Director
- Jia Khan, Actress and Model
- Talib Kiyani, Actor and Promoter
- Mr Luton, Actor
- Mohammed Jamil, Promoter
Zafar Iqbal added: “The team’s moral is so high up on receiving the prestigious recognition award by the mayor of Rochdale.”
The Mayor of Rochdale, Faisal Rana, presented awards to Kashmiri Productions UK and PAK Film Festival supporters involved in cultural activities in Rochdale.
Awards recognised Mohammed Janeed of Aspire Learning Centres and Childcare Limited, Mohammed Jamil of CommunicASIAN, Talib Kayani, Aidan Mufti, Zia Abas, Naveed Haider Butt, Zafar Ali, Sahir Shaikh and Amjad Khawaja.
Kashmiri Productions UK and the PAK Film Festival also received recognition for their work supporting cultural activities in Rochdale.
At each cinema, the Lord Mayor or mayor presented official PAK Film Festival posters to volunteers, participants, VIPs, collaborators and supporters.
Faisal Rana said: “The commitment of Kashmiri Productions UK to bring culture, creativity and storytelling to the wider community is both inspiring and commendable.
“These initiatives provide a valuable platform for local artists, filmmakers, volunteers and community members to share their talents, stories and experiences, while helping to preserve and promote our cultural identity for future generations.
“It is wonderful to see an organisation so passionately using creativity and culture to build bridges between communities and put Rochdale, Pakistani and Kashmiri heritage firmly on the cultural map.
“I attended the festival at reel cinema and I really enjoyed our culture on the big screen and it is my pleasure to present the volunteer team of PAK Film Festival an award in recognition of their hard work.”
Zaker Choudhry, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, said:
“I would like to warmly congratulate Kashmiri Productions UK on organising such an amazing festival and bringing this wonderful celebration of culture, heritage and community to the people of our beloved city.
“It is truly inspiring to see a celebration of our rich Pakistani and Kashmiri heritage and showcasing the positive contribution of our communities.
“Events like this not only entertain and inspire audiences but also help strengthen community cohesion and create a greater sense of pride in our shared heritage.”
The Mayor of Luton, Javed Hussain, said: “Kashmiri Productions UK should be proud of the role it is playing in putting Pakistani and Kashmiri heritage on the map and showcasing the creativity, talent and achievements within our communities.
“Their work is helping to build bridges between generations and cultures, while creating opportunities for people to participate, learn, express themselves and feel a sense of belonging.
“I would like to commend everyone at Kashmiri Productions UK for their continued dedication and hard work.”
“Through film entertainment, Kashmiri Productions UK is helping to create positive conversations and meaningful connections between communities.”
Zafar Iqbal founded the PAK Film Festival in 2022 to celebrate Pakistani and Kashmiri culture, heritage, languages and Islamic content through the production and exhibition of films and documentaries on the big screen.
It also provides a platform for filmmakers from underrepresented communities to showcase their work.
PAK Film Festival 2026 was organised by Kashmiri Productions UK CIC and toured nationally in August, with screenings at Reel Cinema Rochdale, Mockingbird Cinema Birmingham and Cineworld Luton.
Kashmiri Productions UK CIC co-produces films with communities based on Pakistani, Kashmiri, British and Islamic values before showcasing them nationally in cinemas.
PAK Film Festival now looks to 2027, where the theme is dementia, Islamophobia and family ties.
