Faraz Waqar (born 21 January 1976) is a Pakistani filmmaker, writer and director of Pakistan's first ever silent filmMeeoww Billi aur World War 3, completed in September 2013. He is also the winner as an emerging new Director of Pakistan's prestigious HUM TV Awards in 2015 for the Best Short Film - Middle East. Faraz's latest work includes OTHER-ISTAN - The other face of Pakistan completed in 2016.
The era of silent films was already over by the time of the independence of Pakistan in 1947. The new country inherited a film industry from the days of the British Raj (based mainly in the city of Lahore) that had already been producing 'talkies' or sound films since the 1930s. The Pakistani film industry (also known today as Lollywood) therefore did not produce any silent films till the year 2013 when Waqar completed his film Meeoww Billi aur World War 3. The film is an artistic experiment inspired by the era of silent cinema and carries a political message. It is regarded as the first ever silent film in the history of cinema in Pakistan.
Faraz speaking at the first Lux Style Awards press conference
In August 2013, Waqar produced and directed an experimental music film tribute to Pakistan's and the sub-continent's pop music singer Nazia Hassan. The video, titled Imagineer, was released on the thirteenth anniversary of her death. It highlighted Hassan's contribution to South Asianpop and Bollywood film music.
Waqar completed Pakistan's first silent film titled Meeoww Billi aur World War 3 in September 2013. The film is an artistic experiment inspired by the age of silent cinema of the 1920s with a global political message about the Middle East. Meeoww Billi aur World War 3 has been selected for screening at international film festivals in 2013–2014.
Faraz was recognized as an emerging new Director at the prestigious HUM TV Awards in 2015 in the category of Best Short Films - Middle East. His latest film completed in 2016 is titled OTHER-ISTAN - The other face of Pakistan that is to be screened at international film festivals this year.
With his previous background and experience in Brand Marketing, Waqar has in the past been closely involved with the development of commercial television, radio and print advertising for major international and Pakistani brands. In 2002, Waqar was part of the Brand Marketing team responsible for conceptualizing, producing and directing the first Lux Style Awards for Unilever in Pakistan. The Lux Style Awards is today considered one of Pakistan's premier annual award show events.
Waqar is the son of (late) Syed Waqar Ali and artist/interior designer Naheed Waqar. He has two siblings, a younger sister Rida Waqar who is an architect and a younger brother Adnan Waqar who is a banker. Faraz currently resides in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
