Pakistani filmmaker Iram Parveen Bilal won the Best Director Feature Film Award for her film “Wakhri” at the fifth Yellowstone International Film Festival (YIFF), held in New Delhi, India.
The Yellowstone International Film Festival is a global platform celebrating diverse storytelling, with special categories including women empowerment films, environmental films, and student films.
Expressing gratitude on Instagram, Bilal wrote: “Thank you for the honor, [YIFF] jury and organizers. Wakhri shines brightest with its audiences. Deep gratitude to my entire team, cast, and crew alike, for enhancing my vision every step of the way.”
Wakhri premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in December 2023 before releasing in Pakistan on January 5, 2024.
Inspired by the life of murdered Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch, the film follows Noor, a widowed schoolteacher who becomes an overnight social media sensation, navigating the challenges and opportunities that arise.
The film was co-written by Bilal and Mehrub Moiz Awan and produced by Abid Aziz Merchant, Apoorva Bakshi, and Bilal’s Parveen Shah Productions.
