JEDDAH — Pakistani feature film "Malala" won the hearts of viewers at the 9th Asian Film Festival 2016 in Jeddah on Friday. The film was screened at the Indonesian consul general's residence on the second day of the festival, which is being organized by Asian Consuls General's Club (ACGC). [caption id="attachment_38031" align="alignleft" width="300"] Pakistan Consul General Shehryar Akbar Khan welcomes the audience. — SG photo by Syed Mussarat Khalil[/caption] The 1-hour, 27-minute film was directed and written by Davis Guggenheim. It tells the story of Malala Yousafzai, who became the youngest Noble Peace prize laureate in December 2014 at the age of 17. She hails from the Swat Valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwest Pakistan. Malala shot to international fame when the schoolgirl became the target of a terrorist attack in 2012 for speaking out in favor of girls education in the tribal regions of Pakistan. Because of her courageous stance on girls education, Malala became the symbol of the struggle against the suppression of young people and a campaigner for the rights of all children worldwide. A large number of Pakistani and Saudi families, diplomats, dignitaries, including assistant secretary-general of the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Mohammed Naeem Khan and Princess Jawhara, wife of Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Saud, were among the viewers. Head of Chancery at Pakistan Consulate Junaid Wazir welcomed the guests while Consul General Shehryar Akbar Khan thanked all distinguished guests and invitees for their presence at the event. Khan specially thanked to Dharmakirty Syailendra Putra, consul general of Indonesia who is the current coordinator of ACGC, for providing the venue and facilities for screening the film at his residence. In his remarks about the film, Khan said "Malala" gives an overview and an intimate look into the life of Malala Yousafzai, her family and her commitment to supporting the education of girls throughout the world. Paying tribute to the young Pakistani campaigner, Khan recalled her remarks in an impassioned speech to the UN Youth Assembly: "One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world." Khan said Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohammed Nawaz Sharif has described her as the "Pride of Pakistan". "She made her countrymen proud. Her achievements are unparalleled. Girls and boys of the world should take lead of her struggle and commitment. Malala recalled growing up in awe of her father Ziauddin's teaching skills, stating simply that 'the school was my home'," said Khan. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called her a brave and gentle advocate of peace, he added. The film had won prizes at Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards 2015, San Diego Film Festival 2015 and Women Film Circle Awards 2015. The film also nominated for nine different awards in the year 2015. Guests also relished delicacies provided by Consulate General of Pakistan.
