Diaspora to meet diversity at LPFF

London Pakistani Film Festival bridges cultures with a line-up that blends tradition, myth and modernity

As autumn deepens across the British capital, London is preparing for a weekend of cinematic revival with the second edition of the London Pakistani Film Festival (LPFF), set to run from 11 to 13 October 2025.

Organisers have confirmed Rich Mix Cinema as one of the main venues, highlighting LPFF’s ambition to establish itself as a staple event for Pakistani cinema and a platform for cultural exchange in the UK.

Having drawn acclaim in its inaugural year, the 2025 edition aims not merely to repeat past success but to build on it. This year’s programme promises films across multiple languages, voices from regional cinema, and a sharper focus on underrepresented narratives.

At the heart of the line-up is ‘Indus Echoes’, also referred to in some sources by its Sindhi title ‘Sindhu Ji Goonj’, which marks the first major Sindhi-language feature film produced in Pakistan in nearly 28 years.

Directed, written and produced by Rahul Aijaz, ‘Indus Echoes’ is a collection of stories from people living along the banks of the Indus. It is a thoughtful exploration of the human condition through its connection to the river. The film holds an IMDb rating of 8.2 and runs for 72 minutes.

Filmed in Sindhi and subtitled in English, the project is designed to reach both local and international audiences. At the cultural level, ‘Indus Echoes’ has been hailed as a milestone for Sindhi cinema, filling a void that has long existed in Pakistan’s mainstream film industry.

Zaheer Uddin Ahmed’s crime thriller ‘Chikkar’ follows Sarmad Zaman (played by Usman Mukhtar), a police officer investigating a horrific crime in a small town in Punjab. The film carries an IMDb rating of 8.4 and has a runtime of 168 minutes.

A sci-fi feature based on the Persian epic Hamzanama, Azfar Jafri’s ‘Umro Ayyar: A New Beginning’ follows a quantum physicist in Pakistan who is a descendant of the legendary figure, embarking on a journey into a mythical realm. The film is rated 6.9 on IMDb and runs for 135 minutes.

Egyptian-American director Peter Takla’s ’40 Days’ is not exactly a Pakistani film, but its exploration of immigration in the Americas resonates with themes familiar to Pakistani audiences. The film has an impressive IMDb rating of 9.3 and runs for 90 minutes.

In addition to these four full-length features, two short films – Saba Karim Khan’s ‘W.R.A.P.’ and Aneesa Khan’s ‘Criteria Kya Hai?’ – will also be screened at LPFF, with virtual sessions with the filmmakers scheduled after the showings.

This year’s jury retains many familiar names from last year, including Hameed Sheikh, Kay Ram, Rahhi, Diwan and Qais Quraishi. They will be joined by Shahrook Oomer, Adam Richards, Arif Zaffar Munsuri and Aliee Shaikh, who also serves as the event’s brand ambassador.

LPFF also positions itself as a global-local bridge, seeking to connect diaspora audiences with filmmakers and provide a forum where stories can be not only shown but also discussed. Its mission statement emphasises the promotion of Pakistani filmmakers, excellence across genres, and the creation of an interactive space for dialogue and exchange of ideas.

The festival is further expanding its scope. Press reports suggest both an increase in venues and a greater diversity of films, with Rich Mix remaining at its core. Organisers clearly intend for LPFF to be more than a one-off showcase, instead building momentum and visibility for Pakistani cinema abroad.

For British-Pakistani and wider South Asian diaspora communities, LPFF holds particular value. It provides access to stories that mirror cultural complexity, offering counterpoints to the stereotyped or monolithic portrayals often encountered in mainstream Western media.

Rich Mix is a prominent arts venue located in Shoreditch in the Borough of Tower Hamlets. Stretched over five floors, the building contains a three-screen cinema showing the latest mainstream and independent films, and a multitude of flexible performance spaces.